Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers Incorporating Silver-Decorated Graphitic Carbon Nitride for the Visible-Light-Activated Selective Oxidation of Styrene, Benzylic Methylene Groups, and Benzene

A polyacrylonitrile nanofiber (PAN NF) supported silver nanoparticles–graphitic carbon nitride (Ag NPs/g-C3N4) nanoparticles catalyst was fabricated by electrospinning technique. Structural and morphological studies indicate that the spherical Ag NPs present in the g-C3N4 material were well-dispersed on the surfaces of the PAN NFs or embedded in the PAN NFs without agglomerating. The catalytic potential of PAN/Ag NPs/g-C3N4 NFs was developed for oxidation of organic substrate such as styrene, -CH2 bonded molecules, and benzene under visible light. The visible-light-mediated activity of the catalyst could be aided by the photoactive nature of the g-C3N4 surface. PAN/Ag NPs/g-C3N4 NFs show good selectivity toward epoxide with higher conversion (98%) in the case of styrene oxidation. Further, ethylbenzene was oxidized to acetophenone with 99% conversion using H2O2. Additionally, the present material also shows excellent C–H oxidation of benzene (99%) into the desired phenol with higher selectivity. PAN/Ag NPs/g-C3N4 NFs possess mesoporous properties with excellent absorptive performance. This hybrid NFs exhibited enhanced activity, excellent stabilization, and recyclability.