Silver nanoparticles supported on CeO2-SBA-15 by microwave irradiation possess metal-support interactions and enhanced catalytic activity.

Abstract

Metal-support interactions (MSIs) and particle size play important roles in catalytic reactions. For the first time, silver nanoparticles supported on CeO2-SBA-15 supports are reported that possess tunable particle size and MSIs, as prepared by microwave (MW) irradiation, owing to strong charge polarization of CeO2 clusters (i.e., MW absorption). Characterizations, including TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure, were carried out to disclose the influence of CeO2 contents on the Ag particle size, MSI effect between Ag nanoparticles and CeO2-SBA-15 supports, and the strong MW absorption of CeO2 clusters that contribute to the MSIs during Ag deposition. The Ag particle sizes were controllably tuned from 1.9 to 3.9 nm by changing the loading amounts of CeO2 from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. The Ag nanoparticle size was predominantly responsible for the high turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.41 min(-1) in ammonia borane dehydrogenation, whereas both particle size and MSIs contributed to the high TOF of 555 min(-1) in 4-nitrophenol reduction for Ag/0.5CeO2-SBA-15, which were twice as large as those of Ag/SBA-15 without CeO2 and Ag/CeO2-SBA-15 prepared by conventional oil-bath heating.