Incorporation of Ag nanostructures into channels of nitrided mesoporous silica

Nitrided mesoporous silica was used as a host for accommodating nano-silver into the channels. The nitridation of the mesoporous silica host, i.e. SBA-15, with ammonia caused the generation of –NHx groups on the surface. The following impregnation of the nitrided SBA-15 with aqueous AgNO3 solution and further reduction led to formation of silver nanostructures in the channels. The samples were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TEM and XPS techniques. The impregnation time has effect on the morphology of the resulting nanostructures. The interaction between silver species and surface –NHx was the key to immobilize Ag in the channels. A scheme was proposed to illustrate the synthesis of Ag nanostructures using nitrided mesoporous host.