Temperature Dependent Catalytic Activity of Ag/PET Ion-Track Membranes Composites

Electroless deposition has been used to coat finely porous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) track-etched membranes with silver, forming silver nanotubes within the pores with inner and outer diameters of 60 and 100 nm. The sample's X-ray diffraction pattern shows a face-centered cubic crystalline phase of silver with the lattice constant 4.0838 nm. The average size of silver nanoclusters, as obtained from the scanning electron microscopy analysis is about 30 nm which is consistent with the X-ray diffraction results. The temperature dependent catalytic activity of prepared composites is demonstrated for two model reactions such as reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Apparent constant rates and activation energy as well as reusability of catalysts were determined. The developed composite catalyst could be used consecutively for several runs without any damages for 4-NP reduction. For hydrogen peroxide reaction decomposition the reaction rate of the second cycle is reduced 2.4 times. Moreover, the second reuse reduced conversion of H₂O₂ to 54.7% suggests removal of active Ag centers during the first cycle of testing.