SiO₂-Encapsulated Ag/WO₃ Nano-architectures for Azoxybenzene Production via Simultaneous Activation of Aniline and Molecular O₂

Nanocomposites Ag/WO 3 intercalated within the channels of the silica network have been developed using a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process. Structural and morphological studies indicated that the material exhibited two-dimensional type enchiladas-like nanoarchitectures. Higher-resolution electron microscopy results demonstrated that twinned Ag nanoparticles supported on WO 3 units were embedded within the stacked layers of silica without agglomerating. This unique morphology led to higher dispersion of the Ag/WO 3 framework that compelled the availability of more exposed surface-active Ag(111) sites, which triggered the activation of molecular O 2 in furnishing a high yield of azoxybenzene, and this phenomenon has been explained in the light of DFT.