Silver nanoparticles supported on passivated silica: preparation and catalytic performance in alkyne semi-hydrogenation

Abstract

Herein, we report the preparation of small and narrowly distributed (2.1 ± 0.5 nm) Ag nanoparticles supported on passivated silica, where the surface OH groups are replaced by OSiMe₃ functionalities. This synthetic method involves the grafting of silver(I) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide ([AgN(SiMe₃)₂]₄) on silica partially dehydroxylated at 700 °C, followed by a thermal treatment of the grafted complex under H₂. The catalytic performance of this material was investigated in the semi-hydrogenation of propyne and 1-hexyne and compared with that of 2.0 ± 0.3 nm Ag nanoparticles supported on silica. Whilst surface passivation slightly decreases the activity in both reactions (by a factor 2–3), probably as a result of the decreased alkyne adsorption properties or the presence of less accessible active sites on the passivated support, the Ag_NP@SiO₂ catalysts demonstrate a remarkable selectivity for the production of alkenes.