Nanoclusters and nanoparticles of silver doped in mesoporous nanocrystal as photocatalyst

Nanoclusers silver (Ag+m, Agn+m) and nanoparticles silver (Ag atoms, Ag m) doped in mesoporous nanocrystal (nanoAlMCM-41) have been prepared by dispersion method. Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) of Ag/AgBr/nanoAlMCM-41 revealed the formation of different kinds of silver clusters nanoparticles in the mesoporous nanocrystal host. The purity and unite cell structure of each catalysts was determined using x-ray powder diffraction analysis. It was found that while the structure of the support material remained relatively intact after the incorporation of silver ions or AgBr onto the supports. The support size was obtained about 60-70 nm. In the same way, the average size of AgBr nanoparticles was about 25 nm. Ag atoms size is calculated 16 nm. Photocatalyst test on methylene blue dye showed that when Al content in nanocatalyst is below degradation of dye increase.

Keywords:

Silver nanoparticles , Silver nanoclusters , X-ray diffraction , Mesoporous nanocrystal