Thisworkreportsafacileandefficientseed-mediatedmethodforthesynthesisofdendriticplatinum(Pt)nanoparticles(NPs)atlowtemperaturesof55–60°Cinwater,usingL-ascorbicacidasareducingagentandsodiumcitrateasacappingagent.ItisfoundthatthedendriticPtNPs(10–150nm)arecomposedoftinyPtnanocrystals,whichnucleateandgrowthroughtheintroducedsmallerPtseedswithdiametersof3–5nm.FurtherinvestigationshowsthatthedendriticPtnanostructuresdisplayexcellentcatalyticperformanceinanaqueous-phasearomaticketonehydrogenationreaction,including:(i)acetophenoneconversionrateof>90%,withsmallerdendriticPtNPs(10–46nm)offeringahigherconversionefficiency;(ii)highchemoselectivitytowardcarbonylgroup(90.6%–91.5%),e.g.,theselectivityto1-phenylethanolis~90.1%withnearly100%acetophenoneconversionfor10nmdendriticPtNPswithin60min,undermildreactionconditions(20°C,1.5barH2pressure,and1.5mol%catalyst).Thehighcatalyticactivity,selectivityandstabilityofthedendriticPtnanostructuresundertheorganicsolvent-freeconditionsmakethempromisingformanypotentialapplicationsingreencatalyticconversionofhydrophilicbiomassderivedcompounds.
