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A facile manufacturing of Ag/SiO <inf>2</inf> nanofibers and nanoparticles composites via a simple hydrothermal plasma method

Abstract:

A facile synthesis approach was successfully used for the fabrication of Ag/SiO 2 (nanofibers, NFs and nanoparticles, NPs) composite using a simple hydrothermal plasma method with the aid of stabilizing function and reducing agent of triethoxyvinylsilane (C 8 H 18 O 3 Si) and black carbon powder, respectively. The new synthesis approach proposed in this study will provide new insights towards the manufacturing of advanced nanocomposite materials with a wide range of properties and industrial applications. In this approach, AgNO 3 was first adsorbed on the surfaces of silica via an electrostatic attraction between the silanol groups and Ag + cations and NO 3− anions. The adsorbed compounds at silica crystals were then reduced and protected by a mixture of carbon CO and H 2 , at 500 and 650 °C for 20 min to enhance the reduction of silver nitrate to silver metal and finally obtain Ag/SiO 2 nanocomposite. FESEM images revealed the formation of NFs having a uniform distribution and strictly straight morphology with 60–90 nm diameter and up to ca. 40 µm length at 500 °C. By increasing the treatment temperature to 650 °C, well defined-NPs ranging from 23 to 26 nm were obtained. Our study suggests that the as-synthesized Ag/SiO 2 nanocomposites with special morphological properties can be used for a variety of industrial applications including, catalysis, Raman spectroscopy and life science.