In situ growth of silver nanoparticles in mesoporous silica by spray pyrolysis

Abstract

Silver-dispersed mesoporous silica was in situ synthesized in aerosol phase. The solidification of silica was catalyzed in the presence of the silver, which increased the order and d values of the mesophase at given reactor temperature. Silver nanoparticles grew confined in the pores when the atomic % of silver to Si was below 10 and the pore wall turned to be impermeable above 400 °C. Silver permeated through the pore wall below 400 °C to grow freely in the carrier gas. The mesophase deteriorated using spray pyrolysis above 800 °C due to the further densification of silica, or above 10 at.% of silver due to the excessive growth within the phase. The highest dispersion of silver ~4 nm in diameter with the highest order of the mesoporosity was obtained at 600 °C with 5 at.% silver. Calcination following the spray pyrolysis further densified the silica phase to freeze the growth of silver particles as well as lower the d value of the mesophase.