Self‐Assembled Uniform Silver Nanoparticles (SAAgNPs) and Their Supported MoO3 Nanocatalysts for Effective Degradation of Azo Dyes

Abstract

AbstractIn the present study, we report a novel self assembled uniform 3.9 nm silver nanoparticles (SAAgNPs), and their supported MoO3 (Ag/MoO3) nanocatalysts prepared by a simpler chemical method. The excellent metal/metal oxide interaction between Ag and MoO3 has been exploited for catalytic degradation of azo dyes. The significant enhancement of azo dye degradation in the catalytic experiments was examined using UV‐Vis absorption kinetics. The 4 wt % SAAgNPs loaded MoO3 heterogeneous nanocatalyst (Ag/MoO3) showed the highest azo dye degradation efficiency i. e., 37.9 x 10−3 s−1, 19.1 x 10−3 s−1 for methyl orange (MO) and congo red (CR) respectively compared to that of a bare SAAgNPs in presence of NaBH4. The morphology, detailed size, electronic nature of the synthesized catalysts (SAAgNPs and Ag/MoO3) has been investigated using TEM, HRTEM, XRD, UV‐Vis and XPS studies.