Molecular manipulation of the microenvironment of Au active sites on mesoporous silica for the enhanced catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Structural water molecules adsorbed on Au nanoparticles in the form of {OH − ·H 2 O@Au NPs} were identified as catalytical-active sites of 4-nitrophenol reduction, which is extremely sensitive to the subtle changes in the surrounding microenvironment.