Facile one pot synthesis of core shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles for catalytic and antimicrobial activity.

Silica core shell silver nanoparticles (Ag@SiO 2 NPs) have been prepared by a one step synthesis in an eco-friendly way. Biological fermented product, i.e. whisky was used as a reducing agent for silver ions and as a catalyst for the formation of silica shell on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The structural and morphological studies were done by various analytical techniques to reveal its crystalline nature and core-shell structure. The catalytic activity of Ag@SiO 2 NPs for the reduction of mixture of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and rhodamine-B (Rh-B) in presence of NaBH 4 and its reusability are demonstrated. The antibacterial activity of Ag@SiO 2 NPs against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Bacillus cereus ( B. cereus ), and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]