Microwave-aided synthesis and applications of gold and nickel nanoporous metal forms

"DEC 2013.""A Thesis presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri--Columbia In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science."Thesis supervisor: Dr. Sheila N. Baker.In the field of nanoscience, nanoporous metal foams are a representative type of nanostructured materials, representing the ultimate form factor of a metal. They possess the hybrid properties of metal and nanoarchitectures, including the following properties such as good electrical and thermal conductivity, catalytic activity and high surface area, ultralow density, high strength-to-weight ratio. The outstanding properties bring the nanoporous metal foams to a wide range of applications, especially in the field of sensor system, energy storage and chemical catalyst. A new method of synthesis developed recently is presented for nanoporous metal foams of gold and nickel. The goal of this study is for the synthesis process of NMFs of and some applications in research and realistic life. Gold NMFs were produced by mixing gold chloride with ethylene glycol, ethanol, and reducing agent, and heating at 150 °C for 5 min with a CEM microwave. Both hydrazine and sodium borohydride were applied as the reducing agent for this redox reaction. Nickel NMFs were produced through the similar procedure with a little difference in the heating condition of 50 W, instead of 150 °C, with either hydrazine or sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. Gold NMFs were applied in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a substrate. It is presented that with the presence of gold NMFs, the detection of the rhodamine 6G (R6G), a model analyte, can be enhanced significantly. The limit of detection for rhodamine 6G was found to be 5.2 ₉ 10-7 M in this research. Nickel NMFs was applied to degrade methyl orange (MO). An aqueous MO solution will turn nearly colorless after only 10 h of mixing with 0.025 g of nickel NMFs at room temperature under dark condition. In order to study the kinetics of the degradation reaction, MO solution with different initial concentration were used. This application of Ni NMFs is applicable as waste treatment of industrial water and to protect the environment.Includes bibliographical references (pages 51-54)