A novel catalyst based on electrospun silver-doped silica fibers with ribbon morphology

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 341; no. 2; pp. 303 - 310
• Main Authors: Kang, Haigang, Zhu, Yihua, Yang, Xiaoling, Jing, Yujia, Lengalova, Anezka, Li, Chungzhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.01.2010
• Subjects: Catalytic reduction; Electrospinning; Fibers; Morphology; Nanoribbon; Nanostructure; Porous materials; Ribbons; Scanning electron microscopy; Silicon dioxide; Silver; Silver-doped composite; Sol–gel method; Electrospinning; Catalytic reduction; Nanoribbon; Sol–gel method; Silver-doped composite; Porous materials
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2009.09.050

The silver-doped mesoporous silica nanobibbons had been synthesized by combining the electrospinning technique and sol–gel method, which demonstrated high catalytic efficiency for reduction reaction of methylene blue dye (MB). Mesoporous silica nanofibers and Ag-doped composite nanoribbons were synthesized by a facile combination of an electrospinning technique and the sol–gel method. Tetraethyl orthosilicate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide), copolymer Pluronic P123, and silver nitrate (AgNO 3) were the components of sol for the production of Ag-doped hybrid silica ribbons. Heat removal of structure-directing agent P123 in the hybrid fibers at high temperatures resulted in a mesoporous morphology, and the degradation of PVP caused AgNO 3 to convert into silver in the form of nanoparticles. The size and content of the particles in the hybrid ribbons could be controlled by the concentration of AgNO 3 and thermal treatment conditions. Scanning electron microscopy, N 2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV–Vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the composite ribbons. The catalytic activity of the ribbons was evaluated by reduction of methylene blue dye and found to be better than in previous studies.