Nanodiamond supported catalytic nanoparticles and associated methods
A catalytic nanoparticle can include a nanodiamond core, a thin-layer polymeric film applied to an outer surface of the nanodiamond core, and a catalyst immobilized at an outer surface of the thin-layer polymeric film. The nanoparticles can also be used in connection with a transducer to form a sensor. A method of catalysis can include contacting the catalytic nanoparticle with a reactant in a reaction area. The reactant can be capable of forming a reaction product via a reaction catalyzed by the catalyst. The method of catalysis can also include facilitating a catalytic interaction between the catalytic nanoparticle and the reactant.
1. A catalytic nanoparticle, comprising:
a nanodiamond core;
a thin-layer polymeric film applied to an outer surface of the nanodiamond core; and
a catalyst immobilized at an outer surface of the thin-layer polymeric film.
2. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the nanodiamond core has a size of from about 50 nm to about 500 nm.
3. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the nanodiamond core is unhydrogenated.
4. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the thin-layer polymeric film has a thickness of from about 1 nm to about 100 nm.
5. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 4 , wherein the thickness is from 5 nm to 20 nm.
6. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , the thin-layer polymeric film further comprising a polymer having a S—C bond.
7. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is an enzyme.
8. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is a noble metal.
9. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 8 , wherein the noble metal is gold, platinum, palladium, silver, rhodium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, combinations thereof, or alloys thereof.
10. The catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is immobilized via bonding with a sulfur atom at the outer surface of the thin-layer polymeric film.
11. A method of catalysis, comprising:
contacting the catalytic nanoparticle of claim 1 with a reactant in a reaction area, said reactant being capable of forming a reaction product via a reaction catalyzed by the catalyst; and
facilitating a catalytic interaction between the catalytic nanoparticle and the reactant.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the catalytic nanoparticle is a heterogeneous catalyst.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the catalytic nanoparticle is fixed to a porous material.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the catalytic nanoparticle is a homogeneous catalyst.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the catalytic nanoparticle is dispersed in a fluid.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid is a solution.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the solution has a pH of greater than or equal to 8.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the solution has a pH of less than or equal to 5.
19. A sensor, comprising:
a transducer; and
a catalytic nanoparticle according to claim 1 positioned relative to the transducer to facilitate detection of a target analyte.
20. The sensor of claim 19 , wherein the transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer, potentiometric transducer, amperometric transducer, conductometric transducer, chemicapacitive transducer, chemiresistive transducer, photoionizing transducer, physical transducer, optical transducer, a biochemical transducer, an affinity-based transducer, a thermochemical transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, or a combination thereof.
21. The sensor of claim 19 , wherein the catalytic nanoparticle forms part of the transducer.
22. The sensor of claim 19 , wherein the catalytic nanoparticle is positioned separate from the transducer.
23. The sensor of claim 19 , wherein the catalyst comprises an enzyme, a noble metal, or a combination thereof.
24. The sensor of claim 23 , wherein the noble metal is a member of the group consisting of gold, silver, and combinations thereof.
25. The sensor of claim 19 , further comprising a light source positioned to direct electromagnetic irradiation toward the transducer, the catalytic nanoparticle, or both.