Syntheses of U 3 O 8 nanoparticles form four different uranyl complexes: Their catalytic performance for various alcohol oxidations

Abstract Two dinuclear complexes namely [(UO 2 ) 2 (L1) 2 (DMSO) 2 ] ( 1 ) and [(UO 2 ) 2 (L2) 2 (DMSO) 2 ] ( 2 ) of two Schiff base ligands 2-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-2-hydroxymethyl propane-1,3-diol (HL1) and 2-[(3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-2-hydroxymethyl-propane-1,3-diol (HL2) obtained by condensation of the aldehydes 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde and 3, 5-dichloro salicylaldehyde with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane ammine, have been synthesized. On the other hand, when the two aldehydes were treated with uranyl nitrate two mononuclear complexes, [(UO 2 )(L3) 2 (DMSO) 2 ] ( 3 ) and [(UO 2 )(L4) 2 (DMSO) 2 ] ( 4 ), are obtained. The complexes are then heated at 800 °C in open atmosphere to obtain the U 3 O 8 nanomaterials as the final product. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the so obtained the U 3 O 8 nanoparticles. Studies shows the synthesized U 3 O 8 nanoparticles obtained from different complexes were different as far as morphology and size are concerned. All four different U 3 O 8 nanoparticles explored as oxidising catalyst to oxidize alcohols where morphology of the nanoparticles controls the catalytic efficiency.