Ag Nanostructures Decorated KIT-6 Meso-Composites for Catalytic Degradation of Nitroaromatics

The current study involved the synthesis of Ag nanostructures decorated amine-modified mesoporous silica KIT-6 nanocomposites by using the post-functionalization methodology. Various analytical techniques like nitrogen sorption isotherms, Powder XRD, SEM, and SAXS confirmed the successful incorporation of Ag metal on the mesoporous support. HR-TEM studies revealed that the change in the morphology of the embedded Ag nanoparticles from Nanospheres to Nanorods was controlled by the amount of Ag loading. The catalytic efficiency of the prepared nanocomposites varied depending upon the dispersibility and amount of Ag impregnation. The Ag(1.5)/(ap)KIT-6 nanocomposite was found to be catalytically most active, exhibiting 67% degradation of TNP demonstrating considerable efficiency of the catalyst which can be modulated by further varying the synthesis conditions.