Facilely self-reduced generation of Ag nanowires in the confined reductive siliceous nanopores and its catalytic reduction property

Ag-bearing catalysts, especially for certain one with special morphology, afford certain interesting catalytic performance in diversified redox reactions, and its relatively low-cost promotes its broader application prospect. In this study, mesoporous silica (SBA-15) with the reductive surface is prepared for the first time by virtue of the decoration of the reductive organic aldehyde group, and then used as the plastotype of Ag nanowires through the facilely self-reduced interaction between Ag ion and aldehyde. Controllable amounts of Ag nanowires were introduced into the nanotube of mesoporous silica by the varying concentrations of Tollen's reagent. While the introduced surface organic moieties were simultaneously removed through the surface etching of basic ammonia solution during this process. We thoroughly examined the physicochemical properties of the resulting targeted catalysts and applied them into the reduction reaction of nitrobenzene under the certain optimized conditions. Based on which, we conducted the further exploration on the reduction of methylene blue(MB) using this Ag nanowire-containing mesoporous catalyst.