A facile manufacturing of Ag/SiO2 nanofibers and nanoparticles composites via a simple hydrothermal plasma method

摘要

A facile synthesis approach was successfully used for the fabrication of Ag/SiO2 (nanofibers, NFs and nanoparticles, NPs) composite using a simple hydrothermal plasma method with the aid of stabilizing function and reducing agent of triethoxyvinylsilane (C8H18O3Si) 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, AgNO3 was first adsorbed on the surfaces of silica via an electrostatic attraction between the silanol groups and Ag+ cations and NO 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 degrees C for 20 min to enhance the reduction of silver nitrate to silver metal and finally obtain Ag/SiO2 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 mu m length at 500 degrees C. By increasing the treatment temperature to 650 degrees C, well defined-NPs ranging from 23 to 26 nm were obtained. Our study suggests that the as-synthesized Ag/SiO2 nanocomposites with special morphological properties can be used for a variety of industrial applications including, catalysis, Raman spectroscopy and life science. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.