Biosynthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoparticles Prepared Using Aqueous Extract of Cauliflower

This work reports the biosynthesis of Sn(OH)₂ using aqueous extract of fresh cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis), and the subsequent preparation of SnO₂ nanoparticles at two different annealing temperatures of 300 and 450 °C for 2 h. The obtained SnO₂ nanoparticles were denoted as S1 and S2 for the samples prepared at 300 and 450 °C, respectively. XRD analysis identified rutile tetragonal phase of SnO₂ nanoparticles and TEM results gave a quasispherical and spherical morphologies for S1 and S2 respectively of the size range 3.62–6.34 nm. The optical properties were studied with UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, and the nanoparticles showed blue shift in their absorption edges. The observed emission peak in the PL spectra found around 419 nm is attributable to oxygen vacancies and defects. Photocatalytic activities of the nanoparticles (S1 and S2) were studied using methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet light irradiation and the results reveal 91.89 and 88.23% degradation efficiency of MB by S1 and S2 respectively over a period of 180 min.     

The molecular structure of chlorothiomethoxymethyl-bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) methylenechloride solvate at −160°C

The precise molecular structure of [PdCl(CH₂SCH₃)(PPh₃)₂] has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data collected at ?160°C. The CH₂Cl₂ solvated crystal ([PdCl(CH₂SCH₃)(PPh₃)₂ · CH₂Cl₂]) belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n, with four formula units in a cell of dimensions: a 14.973(3), b 15.333(3), c 17.377(3) Å and β 115.77(1)° at ?160°C. The structure was solved by the conventional heavy atom method and refined by the least-squares procedure to R = 0.035 for observed reflections. The geometry around the palladium atom is square-planar. The phosphorus atoms of the two triphenylphosphine ligands are mutually trans. The CH₂SCH₃ group is bonded to the palladium atom only through the PdC σ-bond and the sulfur atom is not bonded to the metal atom (PdC(1) 2.061(3), SC(1) 1.796(3), SC(2) 1.817(5), Pd?S 2.973(1) Å, PdC(1)S 100.64(14)° and C(1)SC(2) 101.28(18)°). The structure is in contrast to that of [PdCl(CH₂SCH₃)(PPh₃)], in which both the carbon and sulfur atoms of the CH₂SCH₃ group are bonded to the palladium atom.     

Supercapacitors based on carbide-derived carbons synthesised using HCl and Cl2 as reactants

Micro- and mesoporous carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) were synthesised from TiC powder via a gas-phase reaction using HCl and Cl₂ within the temperature range of 700–1,100 °C. Analysis of X-ray diffraction results show that TiC-CDCs consist mainly of graphitic crystallites. The first-order Raman spectra showed the graphite-like absorption peaks at ~1,577 cm^?1 and the disorder-induced peaks at ~1,338 cm^?1. The low-temperature N₂ sorption experiments were performed, and specific surface areas up to 1,214 and 1,544 m²?g^?1 were obtained for TiC-CDC (HCl) synthesised at T?=?800 °C and TiC-CDC (Cl₂) synthesised at T?=?900 °C, respectively. For the TiC-CDC powders synthesised, a bimodal pore size distribution has been established with the first maximum in the region up to 1.5 nm and the second maximum from 2 to 4 nm. The energy-related properties of supercapacitors based on 1 M (C₂H₅)₃CH₃NBF₄ in acetonitrile and TiC-CDC (Cl₂) and TiC-CDC (HCl) as electrode materials were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, galvanostatic charge/discharge and constant power methods. The specific energy, calculated at U?=?3.0 V, are maximal for TiC-CDC (Cl₂ 800 °C) and TiC-CDC (HCl 900 °C), which are 43.1 and 31.1 W?h?kg^?1, respectively. The specific power, calculated at cell potential U?=?3.0 V, are maximal for TiC-CDC (Cl₂ 1,000 °C) and TiC-CDC (HCl 1,000 °C), which are 805.2 and 847.5 kW?kg^?1, respectively. The Ragone plots for CDCs prepared by using Cl₂ or HCl are quite similar, and at high power loads, the TiC-CDC material synthesised using Cl₂ at 900 °C, i.e. the material with optimal pore structure, delivers the highest power at constant energy.     

Synthesis of VO2 Nanopowders. Part II. Hydrolysis of Vanadium Alkoxide/Citric Acid Premixes: VO2 Nanostructures of Controlled Shape

Reaction of VO(OiPr)₃/citric acid premixes with excess water produces stable, blue dispersions of V_xO_y gel nanoparticles (5–100 nm in diameter) that can be isolated via acetone precipitation. Annealing under reducing conditions transforms these gel particles into crystalline, faceted VO₂ nanoparticles of similar size. Larger V_xO_y gel particles (75–200 nm in diameter) form when V_xO_y nanogel dispersions are aged with aqueous ammonia. Upon annealing, these larger gel particles transform into crystalline VO₂ rods of 50 nm–10 μm in length. Hysteresis loops confirming a semiconductor-to-metal phase transition near 68 °C expected for crystalline VO₂ particles are recorded by variable-temperature electrical resistance and powder X-ray diffraction measurements.     

Self-assembly of the light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (LHCII) on alkanethiol-modified gold electrodes

A light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (LHCII), isolated from spinach, was immobilized onto a gold electrode modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols, NH₂–(CH₂) _n –SH, n = 2, 6, 8, 11; HOOC–(CH₂)₇–SH; and CH₃–(CH₂)₇–SH; and a bare electrode. The extent of LHCII complex adsorption according to surface treatment decreased in the order amino groups > carboxylic acid groups > methyl groups and increased with the methylene chain length in NH₂–(CH₂) _n –SH. Interestingly, the photocurrent density depended on the terminal group and the methylene chain length in NH₂–(CH₂) _n –SH and decreased in the order amino groups > methyl groups > carboxylic acid groups. An efficient photocurrent response of the LHCII complex on SAMs of NH₂–(CH₂) _n –SH, n = 8 was observed upon illumination at 680 nm. These results indicated that the LHCII complexes were well organized on the cationic surfaces of the gold electrodes modified with amino alkanethiols. The quantum yield depended on the methylene chain length (n), where the maximum photocurrent response was observed at n = 8, which corresponded to a distance of 1.7 nm between the terminal amino group in NH₂–(CH₂)₈–SH and the gold surface.     

Template in situ inducing dispersion of nickel on SBA-15 for methane reforming with carbon dioxide

Highly dispersed Ni/SBA-15 catalysts were prepared via template extraction with varying different extraction times (Ni/S-x, x = 0.5, 3.5, 6.5 h) for methane reforming with carbon dioxide. Based on the various characterization results and initial activity evaluation, Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst showed the best catalytic performance. Compared with the catalyst prepared via template calcination (Ni-S), Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst held steady with CH₄ and CO₂ conversions while those of the Ni-S catalyst respectively decreased by 15 and 11% during the long-term stability test at 700 °C for 50 h. As TEM and TG–DSC results confirmed, Ni particles in spent Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst stayed well-dispersed with size slightly increasing from an initial 3.9–4.1 nm and nearly no carbon deposition was observed. On the contrary, Ni-S catalyst was subjected to sintered metal particles (increased from 11.6 to 18 nm) and formed carbon fibers. The prominent resistance to sintering and coking over stable Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst was attributed to the high dispersion and strengthened metal-support interaction induced via the residual in situ templates.     

Sol–gel synthesis of nanocrystalline Zn1−xNixFe2O4 ceramics and its structural,magnetic and dielectric properties

Zn_1?xNi_xFe₂O₄ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) nanoparticles are prepared by sol–gel method using urea as a neutralizing agent. The evaluation of XRD patterns and TEM images indicated fine particle nature. The average crystallite size increased from 10 to 24 nm, whereas lattice parameters and density decreased with increasing Ni content (x). Infrared spectra showed characteristic features of spinel structure along with a strong influence of compositional variation. Magnetic measurements reveal a maximum saturation magnetization for Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ (x = 0.5); however, reduced value of magnetization is attributed to the canted spin structure and weakening of Fe³⁺(A)–Fe³⁺(B) interactions at the surface of the nanoparticles. Impedance analysis for different electro-active regions are carried out at room temperature with Ni substitution. The existence of different relaxations associated with grain, grain boundaries and electrode effects are discussed with composition. It is suggested that x = 0.5 is an optimal composition in Zn_1?xNi_xFe₂O₄ system with moderate magnetization, colossal resistivity and high value of dielectric constant at low frequency for their possible usage in field sensor applications.     

Segmental mobility and relaxation processes of Fe2O3 nanoparticle-loaded fast ionic transport nanocomposite gel polymer electrolyte

The interaction of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles emphasized between poly(propylene glycol) (PPG 4000) and silver triflate (AgCF₃SO₃) on the conformal changes of coordination sites and the electrochemical properties have been investigated. On the influence of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles distribution, the interactions between the ether oxygen in C–O–C of the polymer chain with Ag⁺ ion as a result of bond strength of the C–O–C stretching vibration, the end group effect has been examined by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The formation of transient cross-links between polymer chains and filler particles appears to be a characteristic change in the glass transition temperature (T _g) and enhance the effective number of cations as well. The strength of ion–polymer interactions was revealed by the transport of ions, t _Ag+, and found to be in the range of 0.42–0.50, and the ionic conductivity was ascertained by complex impedance analysis with a maximum of 9.2?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 at 298 K with a corresponding concentration of 10 wt% Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The temperature dependence of conductivity has been examined based on the Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) equation, thereby suggesting the segmental chain motion and free volume changes. From the impedance data, both the dielectric and modulus behaviours have been revealed and both were well correlated as a function of frequency.     

Synthesis of VO2 Nanopowders. Part I. Sol–Gel Processing of Vanadium Alkoxide Precursor Within Inverse Micelles

Hydrolysis and condensation of VO(Oi–Pr)₃ within inverse micelles containing aqueous ammonia catalyst is conducted under different reaction conditions as a synthesis strategy for preparing VO₂ nanoparticles having average diameter <100 nm. Sol–gel processing of VO(Oi–Pr)₃ to form V_xO_y gel particles is controlled by varying NH₃(aq) concentration and using oleic acid or acetic acid pre-treatments. Isolated V_xO_y gel nanoparticles are reduced to VO₂ nanoparticles by thermal annealing, although annealing conditions must be optimized for each batch of gel particles. VO₂ nanoparticles of average diameters 24 or 70 nm prepared by this method show an expected hysteretic semiconductor-to-metal phase transition near 68 °C.     

Two types of carbon nanocomposites: Graphite encapsulated iron nanoparticles and thin carbon nanotubes supported on thick carbon nanotubes, synthesized using PECVD

In this work, graphite encapsulated Fe nanoparticles and thin carbon nanotubes (CNTs) supported on the pristine CNTs, respectively, were synthesized using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition via efficiently controlling the flow rate of discharging CH₄ and H₂ gas. The properties of the obtained hybrid materials were characterized with superconducting quantum interference and field emission measurements. The results showed that the encapsulated Fe nanoparticles had diameters ranging from 1 to 30 nm, and this hybrid nanocomposite exhibited a ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. Thin CNTs with an average diameter of 6 nm were attached to the surface of the prepared CNTs, which exhibited a lower turn-on field and higher emission current density than the pristine CNTs. The Fe nanoparticles either encapsulated with graphite or used as catalyst for thin CNTs growth were all originated from the pyrolysis of ferrocene.     

Super-Paramagnetic Nanoparticles by Surface Imprinting on Graphene Oxide Modified Iron (II,III) with Application for the Determination of Ovalbumin by Absorption Spectroscopy

Protein surface imprinting produces materials capable of selective recognition and capture of proteins. Herein, a protein surface imprinted polymer on graphene oxide modified super-paramagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is reported. The molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized by ultrasound-assisted suspension polymerization, using ovalbumin as the template molecule, 3-aminophenylboronie acid as the functional monomer, and methylene-bis-acrylamide as the cross-linking agent. The nanoparticles were approximately 40 nanometers in size and super-paramagnetic. Moreover, these particles demonstrated considerably high adsorption capacity, fast adsorption kinetics, and selective binding affinities toward the template protein ovalbumin. The calibration curve of ovalbumin was linear from 5.0 × 10^?11 to 1.0 × 10^?10 molar. The limit of detection of ovalbumin was 2.0 × 10^?11 M. These results show that this super-paramagnetic material has potential for biological macromolecule separation and determination.     

Thermal and surface analysis of palladium pyrazolates molecular precursors

The reduction of molecular or ionic precursors represents one of the more suitable and effective methods to obtain small and uniform particles. In the present work, various palladium (Pd(II)) molecular precursors (MPs) were characterized before and after thermal reduction process, as an alternative to form Pd nanoparticles. These MPs are classified in two principal groups; those that contain 3,5-dimethylpyrazole and those that contain 3-phenyl or 3,5-diphenyl pyrazole with some chemical variations: Pd(3,5-Ph₂pzH)₂Cl₂ (MP(I)), Pd(3-PhpzH)₂Cl₂ (MP(II)), Pd(3,5-Me₂pzH)₂Cl₂ (MP(III)), Pd(4-Br-3,5-Me₂pzH)₂Cl₂ (MP(IV)), Pd₂(µ-3,5-Ph₂pz)₂(3,5-Ph₂pzH)₂Cl₂·H₂O (MP(V)), Pd₂(µ-3,5-Me₂pz)₂(3,5-Me₂pzH)₂Cl₂ (MP(VI)), and Pd₃(µ-Phpz)₆ (MP(VII)). In order to obtain Pd nanoparticles, these neutral MPs were reduced under hydrogen atmosphere. Thermogravimetric analyses were carried out to establish the thermal stability of these compounds, an important parameter in order to select the appropriate conditions to form metallic Pd nanoparticles. To confirm the reduction of the precursors, Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were performed on the molecular cluster precursor powders. The present study is a preparatory guide to establish the appropriate conditions in order to promote the formation of Pd nanoparticles. The temperature of 600 °C emerges as an ideal temperature to reach the decomposition of organic groups in the Pd(II) MPs, as well as the formation of metallic Pd particles, as corroborated by FT-IR and XPS analysis. These Pd MPs represent a new alternative for the preparation of metallic Pd nanoparticles.     

Effect of the production conditions on the size and magnetic characteristics of iron sulfide Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>S<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles

It was shown that the reaction of the trinuclear complex [FeFe₂O(CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]·₂H₂O with thiourea in tetraethylene glycol leads to the formation of nanoparticles of thiospinel Fe₃S₄, the size of which depends on the reaction conditions. It was established that the formed thiospinel particles exhibit superparamagnetic characteristics. It was shown that the size of the nanoparticles has an effect on their magnetic characteristics.     

Fe2O3 nanoparticles as particulate emulsifier: Preparation of magnetic and biocompatible PLGA microcapsules

Magnetic iron oxide (Fe₂O₃, maghemite) nanoparticle-coated micrometer-sized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules were fabricated via a combined system of “Pickering-type” emulsion route and solvent volatilization method in the absence of any molecular surfactants. Stable oil-in-water emulsions were prepared using Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as a particulate emulsifier and a dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) solution of PLGA as an oil phase. The Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle-coated PLGA microcapsules were fabricated by the evaporation of CH₂Cl₂ from the emulsion, and then bare-PLGA microcapsules were prepared by the removal of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles using HCl aqueous solution. The two types of microcapsules were characterized in terms of size, component and morphology using scanning electronic microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared, optical microscope, and so on. SEM with energy dispersive analysis system (EDS) study confirmed that, there is negligibly small amount of Fe₂O₃ in the bare-PLGA microcapsules after washing with HCl aqueous solution. Moreover, a possible mechanism for the formation of the microcapsules was proposed. The combined system of Pickering emulsion and solvent volatilization opens up a new route to fabricate a variety of microcapsules.     

New Cluster Complexes with Octahedral Cores of Niobium Atoms: Syntheses, Structures, and Properties of [K(18-crown-6)]2[K(18-crown-6)(H2O)2]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] · 2CH3CN and [(C6H5)4P]4[Nb6Cl12(NCS)6] · 0.94CH3OH

The syntheses and structures of [K(18-crown-6)]₂[K(18-crown-6)(H₂O)₂]₂[Nb₆Cl₁₂(CN)₆] · 2CH₃CN (1) and [(C₆H₅)₄P]₄[Nb₆Cl₁₂(NCS)₆] · 0.94CH₃OH (2), determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction, are reported. Crystal data: [K(18-crown-6)]₂[K(18-crown-6)(H₂O)₂]₂[Nb₆Cl₁₂(CN)₆] · 2CH₃CN: monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 17.8240(9), b = 15.9395(8), c = 18.660(1) Å, β = 113.833(2)°, Z = 2; [(C₆H₅)₄P]₄[Nb₆Cl₁₂(NCS)₆] · 0.94CH₃OH: triclinic, $ P\bar{1} $ , a = 14.6239(3), b = 14.6237(5), c = 15.9831(3) Å, α = 113.482(1)°, β = 114.684(1)°, γ = 92.585(1)°, Z = 1. Both complexes contain [Nb₆Cl₁₂ Y ₆]^4? cluster anions with Y = CN and NCS, respectively, on all six cluster exo-positions. They have been prepared via ligand substitution in solution, starting from K₄[Nb₆Cl₁₈], which was synthesized by a high temperature solid state reaction. Structural trends and spectroscopic properties are discussed and compared to related compounds reported previously in the literature.     

Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene/2-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazole-2-yl)-6-(1,1- dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol composite microspheres of narrow size distribution for UV irradiation protection

Polystyrene (PS) UV absorber microspheres of narrow size distribution have been prepared in two ways: (1) Entrapment of the UV absorber molecule, 2-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazole-2-yl)-6-(1, 1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol) [TINUVIN? 326] within uniform PS template microspheres by swelling these template particles with methylene chloride emulsion droplets containing the TINUVIN, followed by evaporation of the methylene chloride from the swollen PS microspheres. (2) A similar swelling process, substituting the methylene chloride emulsion droplets containing the TINUVIN for methylene chloride emulsion droplets containing the monomers, divinyl benzene (DVB) and styrene (S) and the initiator, benzoyl peroxide and TINUVIN. The monomers within the swollen microspheres were then polymerized by elevating the temperature of the swollen particles to 73?°C. The influence of the weight ratio [TINUVIN]/[PS] on the entrapped percentage of TINUVIN was elucidated. Polyethylene/TINUVIN, PE/(PS/TINUVIN), and PE/(PS/P(S-DVB-TINUVIN)) resins and films were prepared by melt blending of low-density PE with TINUVIN and with the UV absorber microspheres, followed by a tubular blown process. The UV absorption of these composite films was demonstrated. The leakage kinetics of the TINUVIN from these composite films was according to the following order: PE/(PS/P(S-DVB-TINUVIN))?<?PE/(PS/TINUVIN)?<?PE/TINUVIN.

Size Control of FePt Nanoparticles Produced by Seed Mediated Growth Process

Monodisperse FePt nanoparticles with average size of 2.4?nm were successfully synthesized via chemical co-reduction of iron acetylacetonate, Fe(acac)₃, and platinum acetylacetonate, Pt(acac)₂, by 1,2-hexadecanediol as a reducing agent and oleic acid and oleyl amine as surfactant. Then using the seed mediated growth process smaller sized FePt nanoparticles are used as seeds for the growth of larger sized FePt particles and there is no specific limitation to achieve upper size range by this method. In this work, we could synthesize FePt nanoparticles up to 4.0?nm. Monodispersity with relatively narrow size distribution and having the same elemental composition with the atomic percentage of Fe _x Pt_100?x (x?=?63) are the main advantages of this method. As-made FePt nanoparticles have the chemical disordered face centered cubic structure with superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. After annealing these particles become ferromagnetic with high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and their coercivity increases with increasing particle sizes and reaches a maximum value of 5,200?Oe for size of 46.5?nm     

Fragmentation reactions ofN-sulfinylaniline PhNSO by the dinuclear complex [Fe2(CO)7{μ-C(R)C(NEt2)}]: Nitrene and sulfur insertions into iron carbene bonds. Synthesis and x-ray structures of [Fe2(CO)6{μ-N(Ph)C(NEt2)C(Me)S}] [Fe2(CO)6{μ-N(Ph)C(NEt2)C(Ph)S}] · 0.5C6H14 and [Fe2(CO)6{μ-C(C3H5)C(NEt2)N(Ph)SO}] · 0.5CH2Cl2

The diiron ynamine complexes [Fe₂(CO)₇{μ-C(R)C(NEt₂)}] (1) (R=Me, Ph, C₃H₅, SiMe₃) react with theN-sulfinylaniline, PhNSO, in refluxing hexane to yield the complexes [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-N(Ph)C(Me)S}] (2), [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-N(Ph)C(NEt₂)C(Ph)S}] · 0.5C₆H₁₂ (3), [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-C(C₃H₅)C(NEt₂)N(Ph)SO}] · 0.5CH₂Cl₂ (4), and [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-C(SiMe₃)C(NEt₂)S)}] (5). Compound 5 was found to be identical to the previously reported product obtained from the reaction of 1 with sulfur. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal data: for 2: space group = P2₁/n,a=9.533(1) Å,b=18.830(4) Å,c=12.705(4) Å, β=107.01(2)°,Z=4, 2687 reflections,R=0.027; for 3: space group=P2₁/n,a=13.660(2) Å,b=19.096(8) Å,c=10.972(2) Å, β=90.62(1)°,Z=4, 2821 reflections,R=0.036; for 4: space group=P2₁/a,a=18.098(5) Å,b=16.564(4) Å,c=18.548(2) Å, β=115.44(2)°,Z=4, 3569 reflections,R=0.041. Complexes 2 and 3 result from fragmentation of theN-sulfinylaniline ligand and insertion of the nitrene grouping into the Fe=C(aminocarbene) bond, whereas the sulfur atom inserts into one Fe-C bond of the bridging carbene. Compound 4 is formed by insertion of the entireN-sulfinyl aniline ligand into the Fe=C(aminocarbene) bond. All three complexes have basket-like arachno structure isolobal to the benzvalene one.     

Heat treatment of rapidly solidified Fe−Cr−Zr−B alloys

The crystallization behaviour of amorphous melt spun Fe_82?x?yCr₁₈Zr_xB_y (x=0–8, y=10–20) ribbons have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallization temperature and crystallization behaviour change with varzing Zr and B content. The microstructural development during annealing of amorphous Fe₆₄Cr₁₈Zr₈B₁₀ has been investigated by a combination of transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Isothermal annealing for 2 h at temperatures in the range 600–1000°C produces a variety of different microstructures depending on the annealing temperature. At 600°C, the amorphous alloy partially crystallizes to a form a microstructure consisting of 9 nm sized bee ferrite grains embedded in an amorphous matrix. At temperatures in the range 700–900°C, the alloy microstructure transforms into a mixture of bee ferrite, faulted fcc MB₁₂ boride particles and tetragonal M₃B boride particles. At 1000°C, the faulted fcc MB₁₂ boride particles are replaced by orthorhombic M₄B boride particles.     

Thermal behavior of Co<Subscript>x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>3−x</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposites obtained by a modified sol–gel method

The thermal behavior of Co_xFe_3?xO₄/SiO₂ nanocomposites obtained by direct synthesis starting from nonahydrate ferric nitrate and hexahydrate cobalt nitrate in different ratios with and without the addition of 1,4-butanediol was studied. For the synthesis of Co_xFe_3?xO₄ (x = 0.5–2.5) dispersed in the silica matrix a wide Co/Fe molar ratio was used. The decomposition processes, formation of crystalline phases, gases evolvement and mass changes during gels annealing at different temperatures were assessed by thermal analysis. The absence of succinate precursor and a low mass loss were observed in the case of the gel obtained in the absence of 1,4-butanediol. In case of gels obtained using a stoichiometric ratio of Co/Fe, no clear delimitation between Co and Fe succinates was observed, while for samples with a Fe or Co excess, the formation of the two succinates was observed. The evolution of the crystalline phase after annealing (673, 973 and 1273 K) investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry revealed that in samples with Fe excess, stoichiometric Fe/Co ratio or low Co excess, the cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) was obtained as a single phase, while in samples with higher cobalt excess, olivine (Co₂SiO₄) as a main phase, cobalt oxide and CoFe₂O₄ as secondary phases were obtained after annealing at 1273 K. The SEM images confirmed the nanoparticles embedding in the silica matrix, while the TEM and X-ray diffraction data showed that the obtained nanoparticles’ size was below 10 nm in most samples.