Bio-inspired fabrication of silver nanoparticles on nanostructured silica: characterization and application as a highly efficient hydrogenation catalyst

Abstract

The design and facile green synthesis of supported metal-engineered nanoparticles with efficient catalytic activity has significant industrial importance. A biosynthetic and ecofriendly one-step reduction strategy has been developed through the protein-mediated in vitro biosynthesis of AgNPs on the surface of nanosilica. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles supported on nanosilica (Ag@Nanosilica) were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDXA) elemental mapping, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The spectroscopic and electron microscopic studies demonstrated that the immobilized protein on the nanosilica surface served as a reducing, capping and stabilising agent, while sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the three proteins of 48, 38 and 36 kDa participated in the formation of Ag@ Nanosilica material. The formation mechanism of AgNPs on nanosilica explained the origin of the biomineralization of metal nanoparticles in nature. The novel reusable Ag@Nanosilica exhibited enhanced catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of a model compound, namely, 4-nitrophenol. Overall our results will help to understand metal nanoparticle formation in the Earth's crust and aid the design of "green" syntheses of novel nanoreactors. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See

Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using <i>Abutilon indicum</i> leaf extract: Antimicrobial, antioxidant and photocatalytic dye degradation activitie

“…Results also confirmed their spherical shape. These findings are in agreement with those reported in previous studies [6,7,15]. Results from EDX were consistent with the SEM results, and it was evident from the EDX spectrum that the CuO nanoparticles were synthesized successfully.…”

“…This results in a disordered helical structure of DNA molecule which causes denaturation of proteins and some other biochemical processes in the cell, leading to complete destruction of the bacterial cell [3]. Factors which affect the sensitivity of bacteria to cupric oxide nanoparticle are size of particles, temperature of synthesis of the nanoparticles, structure of bacterial cell wall, and degree of contact of the nanoparticles with bacteria [6].…”

“…CuO nanoparticles are potentially highly valuable antimicrobial agents due to the fact that when synthesized, they possess extremely unusual crystal morphologies and high surface areas [5]. The use of plant extracts for the synthesis of nanoparticles is a gradually-evolving research area known as green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) [6]. In green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, the difficult task is to find a suitable and non-toxic natural product, as well as an eco-friendly solvent system [7].…”

“…CuO nanoparticles are used to improve viscosity of energy transferring fluids, thereby boosting thermal conductivity [4]. In industrial fields, CuO nanoparticles are widely used as p-type semiconductors and transistors in the design and production of batteries [4], solar cells [5], gas sensors [6] and field emitters [7]. Nowadays, CuO nanoparticles are utilized as heterogeneous catalysts [7], antioxidants, drug delivery agents, and imaging agents in field of biomedicine [1][2][3].…”

Yeast-derived biosynthesis of silver/silver chloride nanoparticles and their antiproliferative activity against bacteria

“…3 NPs have a large surface area to volume ratio, which makes them particularly useful for catalytic and microbicide purposes, in industrial settings. [4][5][6][7] Currently, metallic NPs are produced by reducing noble metals such as silver, 1 gold, 8 copper, 9 zinc 10 and titanium, 11 among others.…”