Green fabrication of high-performance silver nanoparticles/reduced Ti3C2T x MXene nanocomposite catalyst for 4-nitrophenol reduction

The outstanding electrical conductivity of transition metal carbides Ti3C2Tx (MXene) makes it as an excellent electron transfer medium for fabrication of efficient catalysts. However, the poor stability of MXene may restrict its application. Herein, a novel silver nanoparticles/reduced MXene nanocomposite (AgNPs/rMXene) catalyst was prepared by using L-arginine (L-Arg) as a green reducing agent. In the AgNPs/rMXene catalyst, the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and reduced MXene (rMXene) acted as catalytic active species and electron transfer medium, respectively. The composite catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity in the conversion of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), and the conversion frequency (TOF) was high up to 1109.4 h(-1). Notably, the composite catalyst also showed high stability due to the reduction of L-Arg (i.e. the repair of defect groups on MXene surface). The conversion efficiency for 4-NP reduction by AgNPs/rMXene was high up to 90% after five recycles. This present study offers a simple and green approach for the design and development of efficient MXene-based catalysts.