Synthesis of confined Ag nanowires within mesoporous silica via double solvent technique and their catalytic properties

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 359; no. 1; pp. 40 - 46
• Main Authors: Huang, Xiubing, Dong, Wenjun, Wang, Ge, Yang, Mu, Tan, Li, Feng, Yanhui, Zhang, Xinxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Ag nanowires; aqueous solutions; benzaldehyde; Catalysis; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Double solvent technique; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; hexane; hydrophilicity; hydrophobicity; Mesoporous silica; Nanoparticles; Nanorods; nanosilver; Nanowires; Nanowires - chemistry; Oxidation; Particle Size; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Porosity; Porous materials; silica; Silicon; Silicon dioxide; Silicon Dioxide - chemical synthesis; Silicon Dioxide - chemistry; Silver; Silver - chemistry; silver nitrate; Solvents; Solvents - chemistry; styrene; Styrenes; Surface Properties; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; transmission electron microscopy; Oxidation; Ag nanowires; Double solvent technique; Mesoporous silica; Binary compound; Confinement; Nanoparticle; Oxides; Selectivity; Hydrophobicity; Porous material; Silica; Composite material; Template; Pore size; Synthesis; Hexane; Catalytic reaction; Hydrocarbon; Benzaldehyde; Aldehyde; Conversion; Mesoporosity; Transmission electron microscopy; Morphology; Styrene; Benzenic compound; Aqueous solution
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.03.049

Ag nanowires with several micrometers length have been successfully synthesized within SBA-15 by a simple double solvent method. The morphology and loaded amount of Ag can be controlled by the concentrations of AgNO3. [Display omitted] ► Ag nanowires with several micrometers length have been successfully synthesized. ► The amount and morphology of Ag can be controlled by the concentrations of AgNO3. ► The mechanism of Ag formation through the double solvent technique is proposed. Ag nanowires within the channels of mesoporous silica have been successfully synthesized via a double solvent technique, in which n-hexane is used as a hydrophobic solvent to disperse mesoporous silica and an AgNO3 aqueous solution is used as a hydrophilic solvent to fill mesochannels. The morphology of the obtained Ag (nanowires, nanoparticles or nanorods) can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of AgNO3 solution and the template pore size. HRTEM images demonstrate extensive Ag nanowires with several to tens of hundreds nanometers in length are deposited along the long axis of mesochannels when the atomic AgNO3/Si ratio is 0.090. When the atomic AgNO3/Si ratio is 0.068 or 0.11, there is a combination of Ag nanoparticles and nanowires; nanoparticles are mainly formed when the atomic AgNO3/Si ratio is higher than 0.14. Further, the catalytic results of the oxidation of styrene show that styrene oxide and benzaldehyde are the main products of the reaction, and the morphology and diversity of Ag in Ag/mesoporous silica composites have an effect on the conversion of styrene and selectivity of styrene oxide.