Abstract
In this study, agar hydrogel (AG) was prepared and used as support for the copper and cobalt nanoparticles inside it. AG hydrogels at three different concentrations of 0.4, 1 and 2 wt/wt% were prepared by cooling down their aqueous solutions to room temperature. All these hydrogels were separately introduced into the 0.5 M copper sulphate or cobalt chloride aqueous solutions to uptake the respective metal ions. The ions loaded hydrogels were treated with concentrated NaBH 4 aqueous solution to prepare the copper or cobalt nanoparticles loaded AG hydrogels (Cu-AG or Co-AG). Pure AG as well as M2+-AG hydrogels were characterized using various instrumental techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Finally, the M2+-AG hydrogels were utilized as catalysts in methylene blue dye reduction reaction using NaBH4 as reducing agent.