Abstract
In this work, a simple and environmentally friendly approach has been followed to synthesize amine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-supported silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) having superior catalytic efficiency towards the reduction of organic pollutants. RGO/AgNPs nanohybrid was synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal reduction of silver nitrate in the presence of amino-propyl trimethoxy silane (APTMS)-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The structural and morphological characterization of as-synthesized RGO/AgNPs nanohybrid was done by using XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy techniques. APTMS plays an important role in controlling the size of anchored AgNPs on the nanohybrid in the present study. The −NH2 groups on the surface of APTMS-modified GO function as effective and well-organized nucleation centers facilitating uniform growth of discrete and smaller-sized spherical AgNPs on the surface of RGO nanosheets. In the absence of APTMS, the nanohybrid comprised of bigger-sized AgNPs with few hundred of nanometers in dimension. The catalytic efficiency of RGO/AgNPs nanohybrid was evaluated for the reduction of two model organic pollutants: 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methylene blue (MB). Due to the synergistic effects of RGO, APTMS, and Ag components, RGO/AgNPs nanohybrid developed in the present study exhibited superior catalytic activity towards the reduction of 4-NP and MB in comparison with previously reported graphene/graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide-supported AgNPs catalysts. The catalytic reduction of 4-NP and MB followed pseudo-unimolecular kinetics and the rate constants were found to be 18.83 × 10−3 s−1 and 131.5 ×10−3 s−1 respectively for 4-NP and MB. Furthermore, RGO/AgNPs nanohybrid showed admirable recyclability with negligible loss in its activity until five recycle runs. The superior catalytic activity, favorable kinetic parameters, and sustained catalytic efficiency after recycling make RGO/AgNPs nanohybrid a promising catalyst for the reduction of organic pollutants in environmental remediation.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the SAIF-CUSAT for XRD, SEM, TEM, and FT-IR analysis. We also thank Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre, Kannur University for Raman analysis and UV-Vis absorption studies.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. This work was designed by Dr. Shima. P. Damodaran. The research work was executed by Vijina Chathambally with the support of Majitha Kundathil Purayil. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Vijina Chathambally and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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C, V., KP, M. & Damodaran, S.P. Amine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide-supported silver nanoparticles for superior catalytic reduction of organic pollutants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 96114–96124 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29115-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29115-2