One-pot photochemical synthesis of graphene composites uniformly deposited with silver nanoparticles and their high catalytic activity towards the reduction of 2-nitroaniline

Abstract

A one-step photochemical approach was established to quickly and specifically synthesize uniformly dispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. Silver–ammonia and graphene oxide (GO) were used as precursors to enhance the coordination-based adsorption of silver cations onto the negatively charged GO surface through ligation with ammonia, which could also continuously stabilize the nucleation and growth of AgNPs. The method allowed the easy control of the coverage percentage of AgNPs on rGO in a range from 7.2% to 81.6%. The prepared AgNPs-rGO composites were highly dispersible and stable in water in the absence of any stabilizing agent, and showed excellent catalytic properties in the reduction of 2-nitroaniline to 1,2-benzenediamine.