Preparation and catalytic application of Ag/polydopamine composite on surface of glass substrates

In this work, Ag/polydopamine composite on glass substrates (Ag/PDA@slides) were formed by using polydopamine (PDA) as both reducing and stabilizing agent to reduce silver salts to silver nanoparticles (NPs) and adhesive them to slides. The morphology and chemical composition of the composite material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). The prepared Ag/PDA@slide was a highly active catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) aqueous solution at room temperature. The reduction rate of the optimal catalyst was as fast as 10 s and it was stable up to 6 cycles without a significant loss of its catalytic activity. By measuring the UV-Vis absorption bonds of Ag/PDA@slides, it proved that condition of the strongest surface plasmon resonance of Ag/PDA@slides is the optimal condition of catalytic reduction of 4-NP.