Synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with silver metallic nanoparticles as a catalytic degradable material via pulsed laser ablation in liquid media

Multi-walled carbon nanotube decorated with silver nanoparticles (MWCNTs/Ag nanocomposite) was prepared with clean, simple, and one-pot method as catalytic degradable material for nitro compounds and dyes. This method based on using Nd:YAG (1064 nm, 10 Hz, and 7 ns) for the ablation of silver plate immersed in functionalized MWCNTs solution. The prepared nanocomposite material was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and the thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The prepared sample was studied as a catalyst for the reduction of hazardous 4-nitro phenol, methyl orange, and methylene blue. This study represents that Ag-MWCNTs nanocomposite has a promising catalytic rate constant for the reduction of 4-NP, MO, and MB with values 0.0055 s(-1), 0.017 s(-1), and 0.0098 s(-1), respectively. This research is considered as a powerful, feasible, environmentally safe, and costeffective route for the production of a powerful catalyst for the degradation of hazardous materials and dyes.

Automated summary

In this research, a silver nanoparticle-decorated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs/Ag nanocomposite) was prepared as a catalytic material for degrading nitro compounds and dyes. The method used for synthesis was clean, simple, and cost-effective. The nanocomposite showed promising catalytic activity for reducing hazardous materials and dyes, making it a potentially environmentally safe route for degradation.