Gold nanoparticles immobilized on single-layer α-zirconium phosphate nanosheets as a highly effective heterogeneous catalyst

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were immobilized on single-layered α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanosheets as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst. The nanoparticles were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The characterizations showed that the Au NPs with a size distribution of 2.0 ± 1.0 nm were uniformly dispersed and immobilized on single-layer ZrP nanosheets. The supported AuNPs could serve as an effective catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride (NaBH4).