Incorporation of CdS nanoparticles formed in reverse micelles into mesoporous silica

The incorporation of CdS nanoparticles, prepared in reverse micellar system s, into thiol-modified mesoporous silica, such as FM41 (functionalized MCM- 41) and FM48 (functionalized MCM-48), has been investigated. The nanopartic les were immobilized in the mesopores via the incorporation of water drople ts of the reverse micelles. A particle-sieving effect for FM41 having large (L-FM41, 3.8 nm) and medium (M-FM41, 3.6 nm) pore size was observed, in th at the incorporation of the CdS nanoparticles was decreased with increasing particle size and with decreasing pore size of the FM41. Chemical vapor de position treatment employed to narrow the mesopores of the CdS-FM41 enhance d the stability of CdS nanoparticles against heat treatment. The CdS-FM41 c omposites demonstrated photocatalytic activity for H-2 generation from 2-pr opanol aqueous solution, the better photocatalytic activity being obtained with the larger pore size for CdS-L-FM41. (C) 2001 Academic Press.