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PEG-assisted synthesis of highly dispersed AgNPs/USY catalysts and their efficient catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

LIU Haoyang1, PAN Bo2, LIU Zhigang3, ZHANG Zhihui1*, GAO Wenxiu1, YANG Yanru1, YANG Miaomiao1   

  1. 1. School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Jilin University of Chemical Technology

    2. Organic Synthesis Plant, Jilin Petrochemical Company 3. School of Petrochemical Engineering, Jilin University of Chemical Technology

  • Received:2025-09-28 Revised:2025-10-30 Online First:2025-11-21 Published:2025-11-21
  • Contact: Zhi-Hui Zhang E-mail:zhangzh@jlict.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Development Program (No.YDZJ202301ZYTS319) and the Jilin Provincial Department of Education Research Planning Project (No.JJKH20240303KJ)

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Abstract: In precious metal catalytic systems, achieving a high degree of uniform dispersion of precious metal nanoparticles while establishing strong metal-support interactions is crucial for inhibiting the migration and loss of active components, as well as enhancing the intrinsic activity and stability of the catalyst. This study utilizes a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-assisted hydrothermal synthesis method to control the dispersion and anchoring state of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), resulting in the preparation of AgNPs/USY, which are then applied in the catalytic hydrogenation reaction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Using USY zeolite as the support and PEG as the reducing and stabilizing agent, a series of AgNPs/USY catalysts were prepared by adjusting the molecular weight of PEG and the silver loading. Their structures were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption (BET). The results indicate that the steric hindrance effect of PEG and its synergistic interaction with the functional groups on the zeolite surface enable the high dispersion and effective anchoring of AgNPs within the mesoporous channels of USY, significantly suppressing the aggregation and loss of AgNPs. Under ambient temperature and pressure conditions, the 5% AgNPs/USY synthesized with the aid of PEG-400 exhibited excellent catalytic activity for high concentrations of 4-NP (500 ppm), achieving a conversion rate exceeding 99.9% within 8 minutes, with an apparent rate constant as high as 0.817 min?1. After seven cycles, it maintained over 90% activity, demonstrating significantly superior stability compared to the AgNPs/HY system. Characterization analysis further confirmed that the AgNPs confined within the pores exhibited higher resistance to oxidation and loss. XPS results indicated that the retention of elemental silver in AgNPs/USY was 2.07 times that of AgNPs/HY after cycling.

Key words: silver nanoparticles, USY, 4-Nitrophenol; Catalytic reduction

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