Nanoscale platinum particles at nanostructured carbon materials for catalytic reduction of endocrine disruptors

Title : Nanoscale platinum particles at nanostructured carbon materials for catalytic reduction of endocrine disruptors

Abstract:

As a new class of functional nanostructures, hairy carbon nanotubes (CNTs) consisting of CNTs-grafted chelatant polymers have attracted considerable attention in designing of metallic nanoparticles platforms. These metal NPs-based nanohybrids exhibit remarkable catalytic activity and recyclability. 
In this work we developed a new strategy to prepare functional hairy CNTs for immobilizing nanoscale platinum particles, combining in situ photoinduced SI-ATRP and thiol-yne photo-triggered click reaction. To do this, we have followed a four-step procedure: (i) use of in situ generated diazonium compound to functionalize CNTs by OH-terminated aryl layers; (ii) grafting of bromine ATRP initiator via a nucleophilic substitution reaction, (iii) growing of clickable poly(propargyl methacrylate), PPGM chains from bromine-functionalized CNTs, (iv) grafting of mercaptosuccinic acid via a photoactivated thiol-yne reaction providing chelatant CNT platforms, and (v) in situ generation of platinum NPs on the nanostructured CNTs. The as-platinum nanoparticles decorated CNT-PPGM-SCOOH, served as stable and reusable catalysts for the complete transformation of nitroaromatic endocrine disruptors.
This synthetic approach based on combination of photo-induced SI-ATRP and thiol-yne click chemistry can be used as a general procedure for the controlled design of stable and high-performance novel nanostructured multifunctional platforms. 

Biography:

Dr Samia Mahouche-Chergui obtained her Master degree in Inorganic Chemistry at Paris Sud University in 2006, and then her PhD in Surface-Interface Chemistry at Paris Diderot-P7 University in 2009. She worked then as a Lecturer/Researcher (ATER) in the same research Group developing a combination of diazonium compounds and click chemistry for the preparation of carbon hybrid materials. After postdoctoral research with Pr. Y. Grohens at the Bretagne Sud University from 2010 to 2012, she joined the East Paris Institute of Chemistry and Materials Science at the University Paris-Est Créteil as an assistant professor. Her research is currently focused on the development of sp2 carbon and clay based-functional hybrid nanostructures for applications including nanofillers, electrochemical sensors, and heterogeneous nanocatalysts.