Construction of a Repairable Fixed Porous Catalytic Bed Loaded with Gold Nanoparticles via Multivalent Host–Guest Interactions

The reversible combination between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carriers is crucial for the preparation of a recycle system. Here, a repairable catalytic system was constructed on the basis of AuNPs and porous nickel (PNi) which were combined through the multivalent host–guest interactions between βCD-AuNPs and PNi@IPTS-Azo [β-CD, β-cyclodextrin; IPTS, (3-isocyanatopropyl) triethoxysilane; Azo, azobenzene]. The large specific surface area and connected porous structure of PNi provide a good opportunity to achieve the multivalent interactions between βCD-AuNPs and PNi@IPTS-Azo in the nickel. Additionally, the reaction solution could be catalyzed by flowing over the PNi@IPTS-Azo@βCD-AuNPs substrates. This catalytic model showed a high efficiency close to 95%. Because of the reversible host–guest interactions between β-cyclodextrin and azobenzene, the catalytic system could be regenerated by removing the deactivated AuNPs with UV-light irradiation and recombining new ones through multivalent interactions <i>in situ</i>. This type of catalytic system is regenerative, material-saving, and effective. This system could be expected to be constructed as catalytic fixed beds and applied in industry