Copper(I) as reducing agent for the synthesis of bimetallic PtCu catalytic nanoparticles

Catalysis plays a significant role in modern science and technology and is considered a central pillar in green chemistry to preserve our environment. With the increases in pollutants, contamination leads to global climate change and an urgent need to find new, fast, and greener chemical processes and methodologies is needed. In the present work, we have explored the possibility of use Cu(I) to reduce the platinum salt K2PtCl4 to produce stable nanoparticles. The nanoparticles present copper in the final structure, making it one easy and accessible methodology to produce bimetallic nanostructures. The catalytic applications of the new nanomaterials have been exploited as artificial metalloenzymes and in dye degradation.