Preparation and catalytic activity of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-protected Au nanoparticles for the aerobic oxidation of glucose.

PVP-protected Au nanoparticles (NPs) for the aerobic oxidation of glucose were prepared by using NaBH4 reduction method. The effects of processing parameters such as Au3+ ion concentration, reaction temperature, ratio of NaBH4 or PVP to Au3+, and solvent composition on their particle sizes and catalytic activities were studied in detail and the synthesis conditions optimized. As-prepared Au NPs possessed a FCC structure, with an average size varying from about 100 to 2.6 nm depending on their preparation conditions. The size changes affected their catalytic activities in the aerobic oxidation of glucose. The Au NPs with the average size of 2.6 nm prepared under the optimal conditions showed a high instantaneous catalytic activity as well as a high long-time stability. Based on the kinetic study on the glucose oxidation over the PVP-protected Au NPs, the corresponding apparent activation energy was determined as 82 kJ mol(-1).