Self-supported copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticle growth by bottom-up process onto borophosphate glasses

In this study, we present a new method for obtaining an effective catalytic system composed of glass, with Cu or CuO nanoparticle growth on a glass matrix through bottom-up process. The system is based on active borophosphate glass material doped with $$\hbox {Cu}⁺$$ ions, which was obtained by a classical melt-quenching glass production technique. The thermal annealing of doped glasses under reductive/oxidative atmosphere enables the glassy material to act successfully as host material of both copper and copper oxide nanoparticles. We have investigated the structural and optical properties of the $$\hbox {Cu}⁰$$ and CuO nanostructures by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy. Supported nanostructures with triangular and acicular shape were made without the necessity of chelating agents. The catalytic activity of these systems was efficiently tested for the reduction of p-nitrophenol in the presence of $$\hbox {NaBH}₄$$ , achieving a good rate constant around $$2.8 \times 10^-3$$ and 7.3 $$\times 10^-3\,\hbox {s}^-1$$ for $$\hbox {Cu}⁰$$ and CuO nanostructures, respectively. The catalyst was reused for three times without losing its activity significantly, simply taking and washing the pellet in fresh water, making these materials promising candidates for applications in the fields of catalysis.