Direct formation of silver nanoparticles in cuttlebone-derived organic matrix for catalytic applications

Development of biologically derived materials for the construction of materials with new functions is a crucial intersection of materials science and biotechnology, which is currently a topic of research interest. In this paper, we report on the use of cuttlebone-derived organic matrix (CDOM) as scaffold and reducer for the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The experiment was carried out by simple immersing of CDOM in tollen’s reagent and incubating at 80 °C. UV–vis spectra and TEM were utilized to characterize the AgNPs and investigate their formation process. Results demonstrate that the size and distribution of AgNPs are influenced by the incubation time and protein component in CDOM. Furthermore, the AgNPs–CDOM composite was applied to catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH4, and it can be easily separated from the liquid-phase reaction system during the reusing cycles.