Mesoporous silica supported Pd/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles as a plasmonic catalyst for chemoselective hydrogenation of p-nitrostyrene under visible light irradiation

Abstract

Abstract: Silver-based bimetallic Pd/Ag plasmonic catalysts supported on mesoporous silica catalyze the chemoselective reduction of nitrostyrene (NS) to aminostyrene (AS). Ammonia borane (AB) is used as a mild reducing agent to generate H 2in situ on the surface of exposed Ag and Pd atoms for - NO 2 reduction at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Systematic studies on the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) size are performed in dark and under light irradiation conditions. The spherical yellow colored bimetallic Pd/Ag/SBA-15 (Y) exhibited maximum AS conversion of 89% at 90 min under visible light irradiation. The catalysts display higher selectivity under visible light irradiation which can be due to the efficient adsorption and transfer of H +/ H - pair to the polar bonds in the nitro group. Graphical Abstract: SYNOPSIS Morphology controlled Pd/Ag bimetallic plasmonic nanoparticles are synthesized within mesoporous channels of silica for improved chemoselective hydrogenation of p-nitrostyrene to p-aminostyrene under visible light irradiation. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].