PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES/CARBON NANOFIBERS VIA ELECTROSPINNING WITH RESEARCH ON THEIR CATALYTIC PROPERTIES

Abstract

Ag nanoparticles ( Ag NPs) embedded carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by a new route which included chemical reaction process, electrospinning and calcination technique. The morphology and structure of the composite nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It indicated that Ag NPs were uniformly distributed in the CNFs. This effective synthesis method can be used to prepare other composite nanofibers with functionality. The Ag NPs/CNFs that served as supported catalysts were used in the styrene epoxidation by TBHP. The Ag NPs/CNFs catalyst showed its highly catalytic activity for the epoxidation of styrene (conversion: 40.6%, SO selectivity: 35.9%). This kind of composite nanofiber membrane was proved effectively catalytic activity and recycled easily in the styrene epoxidation.