Amino-functionalized graphene oxide-supported networked Pd–Ag nanowires as highly efficient catalyst for reducing Cr(VI) in industrial effluent by formic acid

Cr(VI) pollution in wastewater has increasingly become a global environmental problem owing to its acute toxicity. Herein, we present the one-pot procedure for preparing the amino-functionalized (-NH₂) graphene oxide (GO-) supported networked Pd–Ag nanowires by co-reduction growth in polyol solution, which show the highly efficient catalytic performance with the excellent cycling stability for the catalytic Cr(VI) reduction by formic acid as an in-situ source of hydrogen at room temperature. The electron transfer from Ag and amino to Pd increases the electron density of Pd, which enhances the catalytic formic acid decomposition and subsequent the catalytic Cr(VI) reduction. The catalytic reduction rate constant of Pd₃Ag₁/GO-NH₂ is determined to be 0.0768 min⁻¹, which is much superior to the monometallic Pd/GO-NH₂ and Pd₃Ag₁/GO. This study provides a novel strategy to develop catalysts for the catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the industrial effluent using formic acid as an in-situ source of hydrogen.