Synthesis of silver nanoparticles within ordered CMK-3 mesoporous carbon

Silver nanoparticles have been prepared using ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 as host by a simple chemical method, which involves AgNO3 precursor impregnation, followed by thermal decomposition. Advantage of template method is that it provides good control over size and shape of the nanomaterials. Silver nanoparticles formation inside the channels of CMK-3 is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which shows silver nanoparticles with diameter of ca. 3 nm coincident with channel diameter of CMK-3. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern also shows presence of silver. N-2 Sorption measurements confirm that Ag nanoparticles are indeed located within CMK-3. The new Ag/CMK-3 nanomaterial is of much importance and would provide wider applications in catalysis and optical property.