Titania–supported silver nanoparticles: An efficient and reusable catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Supported silver nanoparticles were synthesized via in situ sol–gel followed by reduction method with dextrose as reductant and sodium dodecyl sulfate as stabilizer. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X–ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform Infra-Red spectroscopy and UV–visible measurements. The XRD peaks confirm the metallic face-centered cubic silver particles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed from the appearance of surface plasmon absorption maxima at 412 nm; which shifted to the longer wavelengths after supported on titania host lattice. TEM showed the spherical nanoparticles with size in the range of 18–23 nm. An efficient and simple method was reported for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol using titania-supported silver nanoparticles at room temperature. The reaction was first order with respect to the concentration of 4-nitrophenol with higher efficiency. Titania supported silver nanoparticles are reusable and stable heterogeneous catalyst.