Ethylenediamine Mediated, Environmentally Benign Synthesis of Copper Nanowires and their Catalytic Activity Towards 4‐Nitrophenol Reduction

Abstract

AbstractDue to their unique characteristics, one‐dimensional copper (Cu) nanowires are being explored for various applications, including optoelectronics, chemical sensing, catalysis, electrocatalysis, etc. Cu is more affordable and accessible than other noble metals, making it a desirable replacement. Cu nanowires are predominantly synthesized using ethylenediamine (EDA) mediated procedure, in which hydrazine is used as a reducing agent. This method does not require high temperatures and produces good‐quality nanowires within an hour. However, the toxicity of hydrazine limits the large‐scale synthesis of wires using this cost‐effective method, inspite of its advantages mentioned above. Hence, this article aimed to replace the toxic hydrazine with environmentally benign ascorbic acid in EDA‐mediated procedures. Such green synthesis using ascorbic acid successfully yielded Cu nanowires. As revealed by TEM analysis, these Cu nanowires evolved from micron‐sized aggregates of ultra‐small particles. Due to the capping action of EDA, nanowires evolved from the micron‐sized aggregates of ultra‐small particles and resulted in particles attached nanowires (at one end of the nanowires) with a clear particle‐wire interface. Environmentally benign synthesized Cu nanowires are examined as catalysts for the remediation of environmental organic pollutant, i. e., 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP). Towards the reduction of 4‐NP, green synthesized Cu nanowires have shown on‐par activity with earlier reported catalysts.