In situsynthesis of silver nanostructures on magnetic Fe sub(3)O sub(4)[at]C core-shell nanocomposites and their application in catalytic reduction reactions

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2013-01, Vol.1 (6), p.2118-2125
• Main Authors: Zhu, Maiyong, Wang, Chengjiao, Meng, Dehai, Diao, Guowang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c2ta00669c

In this article, a study was presented on the catalytic activity of silver nanoparticles immobilized on magnetic Fe sub(3)O sub(4)[at]C (MFC) core-shell nanocomposites (Ag/MFC) that were used as carriers. MFC composites consist of a magnetic core of an Fe sub(3)O sub(4) microsphere onto which a thin layer of carbon was coated by in situcarbonization of glucose under hydrothermal conditions. The catalytic activity of the as-prepared Ag/MFC is investigated by photometrically monitoring the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and methylene blue by an excess of NaBH sub(4). The kinetic data of both reduction reactions could be explained by the assumption of a pseudo-first-order reaction with regard to 4-nitrophenol or methylene blue. Significantly, the Ag/MFC catalysts can be easily separated from the reaction media by applying an external magnet, and can be reused for several cycles.