Preparation of Ag/ZrGP nanocomposites with enhanced catalytic activity for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), generated in situ by silver nitrate reduction under some conditions, were supported on Zirconium Glyphosate (ZrGP, a kind of layered zirconium phosphonate). It was found that the Ag NPs were dispersed on outside and inner surface of ZrGP nanosheets uniformly. The Ag/ZrGP composite was found to have excellent catalytic efficiency to the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by using NaBH4 as a reducing agent, and more than 99% of 4-nitrophenol was reduced to 4-aminophenol within 10 min. The composite could remain more than 95% activity after it was used seven times.