Synthesis and high electrocatalytic property of calcium carbonate loaded with silver nanoparticles

The quasi-cubic CaCO 3 and CaCO 3 loaded with Ag nanoparticles with different contents were prepared via a facile and easily controlled co-precipitation and hydrothermal associated method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. In the hybrids, Ag nanoparticles were dispersed finely on the cube-shaped CaCO 3 . The final samples were modified directly on the glassy carbon electrode and their electrocatalytic performances for the reduction of p -nitrophenol in alkaline medium and H 2 O 2 in neutral medium as well as the oxidation of NaNO 2 in neutral medium were investigated in detail. The results indicated that the glassy carbon electrode decorated with CaCO 3 exhibited a certain elctrocatlytic activity for the reduction or oxidation of the three materials. The electrocatalytic performances could be enhanced obviously by using the glassy carbon electrode modified with the Ag/CaCO 3 composites because of the loading of Ag nanoparticles. With increasing Ag content, the electrocatalytic activity increased gradually. Graphical Abstract The quasi-cube CaCO 3 samples loaded with Ag nanoparticles with different contents were prepared via a facile and easily controlled co-precipitation and hydrothermal associated methods. In the composite compounds, Ag nanoparticles are dispersed finely on the cube-shaped CaCO 3 . The Ag/CaCO 3 composite hybrids show enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of p-nitrophenol and hydrogen peroxide and oxidation of sodium nitrite.