Photo-induced generation of size controlled Au nanoparticles on pure siliceous ordered mesoporous silica for catalytic applications

A versatile in situ photochemical reduction approach was used to generate a composite of gold nanoparticles and pure siliceous SBA-15 silica support with regular mesopores. The mesoporous silica support was first synthesized and, after calcination, was suspended in a solution of gold bromide (EtOH or H2O) containing a free radical generator activated by UV irradiation and used for the photochemical reduction of gold precursor. The influence of gold precursor concentration, light intensity and nature of the solvents on the formation and properties of gold nanoparticles (size, dispersion, stability) on the mesoporous SBA-15 support have been studied with the aim of optimizing the dispersion of the gold nanoparticles in the mesoporous network and their chemical stability. The catalytic activity of the resulting AuNPs@SBA-15 nanocomposite was successfully evaluated for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol reaction in liquid-phase.