Metal nanoparticle (NP) anchored porous silica particles have attained a lot of attention recently due to their unusual catalytic characteristics. The size and shape of the Ag NPs is critical in determining their catalytic efficiency. We present an alternate silica material, i.e. silica NPs derived from Moonj grass (Saccharum munja), as a sustainable alternative support for Ag NPs in this work. Moonj grass is a weed plant and accumulates silica in its external cellular structures as a defense against environmental stresses and animal grazing. Silica extracted by calcining hydrochloric acid treated moonj grass was first modified with 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS), which served two purposes, it assisted the Ag precursor (AgNO3) in absorbing onto the rough surface of silica nanoparticles and stabilized the consequent Ag NPs formed after the reduction with polyacryloyl hydrazide (PAHz). The Ag NPs synthesized herewith are uniformly size distributed having a size range of 2–4 nm that is crucial for the catalysis, according to the nanostructures' analysis. The process utilized herewith is green as it does not require the alteration in the pH of the synthesis medium and change in temperature. These Ag NP anchored porous SiO2 effectively reduced Nitro group at low catalyst loading uner ambient conditions.

Size controlled synthesis of polymer mediated Ag nanoparticle anchoring on bio-sourced sheet like silica nanoparticles for catalytic applications

ACS Spring 2022

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