LAUSR

Abstract The fabrication of nanostructured catalysts based on noble metal nanoparticles has attracted much attention. In this study, multiple tiny Ag nanoparticles loaded hollow mesoporous organosilica spheres (MT-Ag@HMOS) were synthesized by a novel polymer mediated growth approach. During the preparation, polyacrylic acid@hollow mesoporous organosilica spheres (PAA@HMOS) were first produced formed by condensation of organosilica precursor on polyacrylic acid (PAA) colloids; subsequently, tiny Ag nanoparticles were in situ immobilized both in the cavity and on the shell of PAA@HMOS due to their abundant thioether groups and unique structure. The produced materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), N2 adsorption-desorption instruments, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The MT-Ag@HMOS exhibited a spherical morphology with an average diameter of about 120 nm, a high surface area of 76.5 m2·g−1, as well as high content of tiny Ag nanoparticles (approximately 3 nm). In addition, the catalytic activities of the MT-Ag@HMOS on 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), Congo red (CR), and Rhodamine B (RhB) reduction in the presence of NaBH4 in aqueous medium were investigated. Experimental results show MT-Ag@HMOS particles are promising candidates for the treatment of waste water supplemented contaminated by 4-NP and various dyes.