Synthesis of worm like silver nanoparticles in methyl cellulose polymeric matrix and its catalytic activity

A facile one step method for the synthesis of wormlike silver nanoparticles has been carried out in methyl cellulose matrix. Synthesis is based on the reduction of AgNO3 by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in aqueous methyl cellulose (MC). Synthesized nanoparticles are mostly mono disperse in size and their aggregation is controlled by varying the concentration of AgNO3. Silver nanoparticles are analyzed using transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. It has been found that the concentration of AgNO3 has a significant effect on the morphology of Ag nanostructures. Worm like nanostructures showed excellent catalytic activity in the borohydride reduction of p-nitrophenol compared to spherical shaped nanoparticles.