Sonochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles in Y-zeolite substrate

Silver ions can be reduced by 24 kHz ultrasonic waves in ion-exchanged Ag+–Y zeolite. In this research, silver ions were introduced into the nano-porous (1.2 nm) zeolite lattice by ion-exchange route. After the reduction process, silver nanoparticles were placed in the cavities, with a size of about 1 nm and also on the external surfaces of the zeolite, with sizes about less than 10 nm. Fast and simple lab-scale reduction of silver ions in the zeolite is important for researchers who work on catalytic properties of metallic silver–zeolite. Several reduction methods have been reported but reduction by ultrasonic waves is a new, simple, and size-controllable method with a high practical value which does not need any complicated facilities. In a sonochemical process, a huge density of energy is provided by the collapse of bubbles which formed by ultrasonic waves. The released energy causes the formation of reducing radicals that consequently reduce the silver ions. It is concluded that the higher silver content may result in the formation of larger silver crystals on the external surface of zeolite crystals. Also, the addition of 1-propanol and 2-propanol to the aqueous reaction medium does not cause better reduction. In addition, increasing the irradiation time and ultrasonic power does not affect the silver crystal growth significantly but the extent of silver ion reduction increases when the power of ultrasonic waves increases. All samples were irradiated under the same ultrasonic conditions. The samples were analyzed by XRD, EDS, SEM, and TEM.