Synthesis, Microstructure, and Photo-catalytic Activity of the Ag-doped Silica Nanofiber Membranes

Abstract

Immobilization of noble metal nanoparticles on the material substrates has been considered as one of the most favorable methods to develop the novel photo-catalysts. In this study, Ag-doped silica (Ag@silica) nanofiber membranes were synthesized through electrospinning of the mixture of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, tetraethoxysilane, hydrogen chloride, ethanol and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) followed by calcination at high temperature. The microstructure and photo-catalytic activity of the Ag@silica nanofiber membranes were evaluated. SEM images showed that the as-synthesized Ag@silica nanofiber membranes were constructed by plenty of Ag@silica nanofibers with the diameter of 1260-1430 nm. TEM images showed that each Ag@silica nanofiber had the dense structure with a rough surface. When soaked in the 4-nitrophenol/NaBH4 solution, the Ag@silica nanofiber membranes showed much better photo-catalytic activity than the silica nanofiber membranes for reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol due to the presence of Ag NPs.