Ag-Nanoparticle-Loaded Mesoporous Silica: Spontaneous Formation of Ag Nanoparticles and Mesoporous Silica SBA-15 by a One-Pot Strategy and Their Catalytic Applications

A facile one-step method was proposed for the successful synthesis of Ag-nanoparticle-loaded mesoporous silica SBA-15 composites, where silver ions and their corresponding reductant aniline were added in the traditional synthetic system of mesoporous silica SBA-15 containing P123 as the surfactant and TEOS as the silica source. Mesoporous silica SBA-15 and Ag nanoparticles were spontaneously formed with Ag nanoparticles embedded in channels and even implanted in frameworks of mesoporous silica SBA-15. A tentative formation process was then proposed according to experimental observations. Furthermore, catalytic activities of Ag-nanoparticle-loaded silica SBA-15 composites toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH4 and the reduction of H2O2 were also investigated.