Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2016
We report herein a facile approach to synthesize processable bimetallicnanoparticles (Pd-Au/AuPd/Ag-Au/Au-Ag) decorated Prussian blue nanocomposite(PB-AgNP). The presence of cyclohexanone/formaldehyde facilitates the formationof functional bimetallic nanoparticles from 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane(3-APTMS) capped desired ratio of hetero noble metal ions. The use of 3-APTMSand cyclohexanone also enables the synthesis of polycrystalline Prussian bluenanoparticles (PBNPs). As synthesized PBNPs, Pd-Au/Au-Pd/Ag-Au/Au-Ag enable theformation of nano-structured composites displaying better catalytic activitythan that recorded with natural enzyme. The nanomaterials have beencharacterized by Uv-Vis, FT-IR and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) withfollowing major findings: (1) 3-APTMS capped noble metal ions in the presence ofsuitable organic reducing agents i.e.; 3 glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane(GPTMS), cyclohexanone and formaldehyde; are converted into respectivenanoparticles under ambient conditions, (2) the time course of synthesis anddispersibility of the nanoparticles are found as a function of organic reducingagents, (3) the use of formaldehyde and cyclohexanone in place of GPTMS with3-APTMS outclasses the other two in imparting better stability of amphiphilicnanoparticles with reduced silanol content, (4) simultaneous synthesis ofbimetallic nanoparticles under desired ratio of palladium/gold and silver/ goldcations are recorded, (5) the nanoparticles made from the use of 3-APTMS andcyclohexanone enable the formation of homogeneous nanocomposite with PBNP asperoxidase mimetic representing potential substitute of peroxidase enzyme. Theperoxidase mimetic ability has been found to vary as a function of 3-APTMSconcentration revealing the potential role of functional metal nanoparticles inbioanalytical applications.