Synthesis of Small Silver Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic Activity in 4- Nitrophenol Reduction

This work is aimed at preparation of small silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with various sizes using two-step preparation method. The silver bromide nanoparticles were prepared in the first step and they were reduced to metal silver nanoparticles in the second step. Size of prepared silver nanoparticles was controlled by using of several modifiers. Two surfactants (SDS and Tween 80) and two natural polymers (casein and gelatin) were used. Sodium borohydride was used as a reducing agent due to its high reducing power allowing preparation of small AgNPs. The prepared Ag NPs were used as heterogeneous catalysts in a model reaction based on reduction of 4-Nitrophenol using sodium borohydride under alkaline conditions. The realized experiments showed that the used modifiers significantly influence the catalytic effect of the prepared Ag NPs.