Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Pt/SnO2 for the Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol to 4-Aminophenol

In this study, we present a new approach for the synthesis of Pt/SnO2 catalysts using microwave radiation. Pt(IV) and Sn(IV) inorganic precursors (H2PtCl6 and SnCl4) and ammonia were used, which allowed the controlled formation of platinum particles on the anisotropic SnO2 support. The synthesized Pt/SnO2 samples are mesoporous and exhibit a reversible physisorption isotherm of type IV. The XRD patterns confirmed the presence of platinum maxima in all Pt/SnO2 samples. The Williamson-Hall diagram showed SnO2 anisotropy with crystallite sizes of similar to 10 nm along the c-axis (< 00l >) and similar to 5 nm along the a-axis (< h00 >). SEM analysis revealed anisotropic, urchin-like SnO2 particles. XPS results indicated relatively low average oxidation states of platinum, close to Pt metal. Sn-119 Mossbauer spectroscopy indicated electronic interactions between Pt and SnO2 particles. The synthesized samples were used for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of excess NaBH4. The catalytic activity of the Pt/SnO2 samples for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP was optimized by varying the synthesis parameters and Pt loading. The optimal platinum loading for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP on the anisotropic SnO2 support is 5 mol% with an apparent rate constant k = 0.59 x 10(-2) s(-1). The Pt/SnO2 sample showed exceptional reusability and retained an efficiency of 81.4% after ten cycles.