SiO₂-Encapsulated Ag/WO₃ Nano-architectures for Azoxybenzene Production via Simultaneous Activation of Aniline and Molecular O₂

Nanocomposites Ag/WO3 intercalated within the channels of the silica network have been developed using a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process. Structural and morphological studies indicated that the material exhibited two-dimensional type enchiladas-like nanoarchitectures. Higher-resolution electron microscopy results demonstrated that twinned Ag nanoparticles supported on WO3 units were embedded within the stacked layers of silica without agglomerating. This unique morphology led to higher dispersion of the Ag/WO3 framework that compelled the availability of more exposed surface-active Ag(111) sites, which triggered the activation of molecular O-2 in furnishing a high yield of azoxybenzene, and this phenomenon has been explained in the light of DFT.