In situ introduction of dispersed metallic Ag nanoparticles into the channels of mesoporous carbon CMK-3

An in situ reduction method has been developed to fabricate metallic Ag nanoparticles inside the channels of mesoporous carbon CMK-3. This approach combines function of the CMK-3 surface by oxidation using HNO3 with the subsequent absorption of Ag+. The resultant nanocomposite materials were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Compared with the conventional impregnation method, our approach shows that Ag nanoparticles of 2–4 nm can be uniformly incorporated into CMK-3.