Effect of solvent type on polycondensation of TEOS catalyzed by DBTL as used for stone consolidation

We have investigated the effect of solvent in the sol–gel process of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) when di-n-butyltin dilaurate (DBTL) is used as polycondensation catalyst. Two sets of materials similar to those employed in the field of stone consolidation were prepared in the laboratory by using either protic or aprotic solvents: (1) xerogels from TEOS/DBTL, and (2) composites from TEOS/colloidal silica particles/DBTL. The results have shown that the solvent directly influences the aggregation pathway of the condensates. For a mixture of methyl ethyl ketone/acetone (aprotic solvents), gels with a higher degree of condensation were obtained. In the case of TEOS xerogels, the materials are essentially non-porous. Additionally, the incorporation of colloidal silica particles induces an important increase in porosity, which is even more dramatic when ethanol is used as solvent, through the formation of micro and mesoporous materials as the concentration of particles is increased. A TEOS polymerization pathway is suggested depending on which system of solvents is used. Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the materials obtained.     

New silica hybrids elaborated by sol-gel process from bifunctional thiadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole precursors

New hybrid materials were synthesized from an inorganic precursor, (tetraethoxysilane: TEOS) and bifunctional organic precursors through the sol-gel process. Indeed, monolithic and transparent hybrid gels were obtained by the reaction of tetraethoxysilicate (TEOS) with 1,2,4-thiadiazole-3,5-diamine (1), 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (2), and 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (3) in ethanol as solvent, using chloric acid (HCl 10^?1M) as catalyst. It is shown that TEOS has been cross-linked with bi-functional heterocyclic compounds: (1), (2) and (3) leading to the formation of transparent and colorous gels. The characterization was realized by infrared, ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS NMR. The xerogels morphology and texture were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer – Emmet – Teller method (BET). The obtained results show that organic adducts (1), (2) and (3) react with TEOS leading to gels in which Si–N and Si–S bridges were formed. According to N₂-physisorption results, xerogels are mesoporous with specific surface area varied from 105 to 312 m²g^?1 and their isotherms are classified as type IV. The optic and magnetic properties of hybrids were studied respectively by UV-Vis spectroscopy and RPE. This study showed that all materials are paramagnetic semiconductors.     

Nouveaux Matériaux hybrides organiques–inorganiques obtenus par action du tétraethoxysilane avec des molécules hétérocycliques bi-fonctionnelles

New hybrid organic–inorganic materials have been obtained by the reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) with bi-functional heterocyclic molecules in ethanol using HCl as a catalyst at room temperature. This reaction has led to the formation of colored and transparent gels. The characterization of xerogels has been carried by infrared, ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS-NMR, DTA–TGA, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller method (BET), and DRX. The obtained results show that organic molecules react with TEOS leading to gels, in which Si–N, Si–O, and Si–S bridges are formed. According to N₂-physisorption results, isotherms seem to have a similar sit, and classified as type IV according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, synthesized X₁, X₂, and X₄ are mesoporous solids but X₃ is microporous. The BET surface area of these materials is important. It varied from 47 to 302 m²g^?1. The optic and magnetic properties of hybrids are also studied by Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and résonance para-électronique. The obtained results show that all materials are semiconductors, and X₂, X₃, and X₄ are paramagnetic but X₁ is diamagnetic.     

Interpenetration of wood with NH2R-functionalized silica xerogels anchoring copper(II) for preservation purposes

Interpenetration of wood samples of pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) with hybrid inorganic–organic silica xerogels bearing amine functions able to coordinate copper(II) cations has been successfully carried out. These materials have been prepared by sol–gel processing TEOS/APTES mixtures inside the wood. Solid state ²⁹Si NMR data provide evidence that the interpenetrated xerogel material has the same degree of condensation of the corresponding xerogel formed outside the wood. Copper(II) is effectively vehiculated inside the wood by coordination linkages with two ammine functions well evidenced by ESR measurements. SEM/EDX investigations show that the chlorine/copper atomic ratio inside the wood is lower than that of the starting salt CuCl₂, suggesting an exchange reaction with silanol groups with the formation of Si–O–Cu linkages and HCl. This reaction could be promoted by the excess of amine functions with formation of ammonium chloride species which remain onto the surface of the wood and in the mother solution owing to a higher degree of condensation. Sodium silicate was tested in place of TEOS in order to have a cheaper and ethanol-free formulation. However, gel penetration results significantly lower than that of the corresponding formulation containing TEOS and preservation performance are lower than that of TEOS formulation against brown-rot fungal decay.     

Monolithic Gels of Silica and Nonionic Surfactant: Matrices for the Dispersion of Metal Ions

The formation of homogeneous monolithic gels by the addition of TEOS to acidic amphiphilic solutions has been investigated for a range of nonionic surfactants, and the relationships between solution composition and gelation examined. Using the surfactant solutions as a means of pre-doping the matrices with high concentrations of manganese nitrate gave gels which could be calcined to 400°C with little or no segregation of manganese oxide observed by X-ray diffraction. X-ray absorption spectroscopy has shown that the ligand environment of manganese in the silica-surfactant matrices differs from that in gels derived from ethanol solutions, and that most of the manganese in the calcined gels remains in a disordered environment.     

Vapor-phase synthesis of mesoporous SiO2-P2O5 thin films

Mesoporous SiO2-P2O5 films were synthesized from the vapor phase onto a silicon substrate. First, a precursor solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16TAB), H3PO4, ethanol, and water was deposited on a silicon substrate by a spin-coating method. Then, the C16TAB-H3PO4 composite film was treated with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) vapor at 90-180 degrees C for 2.5 h. The H3PO4-C16TAB composite formed a hexagonal structure on the silicon substrate before vapor treatment. The TEOS molecules penetrated into the film without a phase transition. The periodic mesostructure of the SiO2-P2O5 films was retained after calcination. The calcined films showed a high proton conductivity of about 0.55 S/cm at room temperature. The molar ratio of P/Si in the SiO2-P2O5 film was as high as 0.43, a level that was not attained by a premixing sol-gel method. The high phosphate group content and the ordered periodic mesostructure contributed to the high proton conductivity.     

Sol-gel kinetics for the synthesis of multi-component glass materials

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) FTIR has been used to follow sol-gel synthesis kinetics for tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), ethanol, and water solutions yielding pure silicate materials. Aluminosilicates have also been made using TEOS:ethanol:water solutions doped with Al(III). Effective rate constants have been fitted to a kinetic model suggested by the literature for pure silicate materials. This model has been extended to include the effect of Al(III) on the rate constants. The effects of solution pH, temperature, and varying TEOS/Ethanol mole ratios have been investigated. Reliable effective rate constants for metal doped sol-gel solutions will lead to better control of the morphological and chemical properties of multi-component glass materials.     

Solvent effects on structural properties of SiO2 gel using n-octylamine as a catalyst

We have investigated the effect of solvent(ethanol, acetone, isopropanol) on the sol–gel process of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in which case, n-octylamine is used as polycondensation catalyst. Two sets of materials were prepared in the laboratory by using ethanol, acetone and isopropanol as solvents respectively: (1) xerogels from TEOS/n-octylamine, and (2) composites from TEOS/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes /n-octylamine. The chemical structure of xerogels was studied by FTIR, TG–DSC, scanning electronic microscope and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms techniques. The results have shown that the solvents directly influence the gel time. Gel time is longer for acetone than that of ethanol and isopropanol. In the case of TEOS xerogels, the materials are essentially mesoporous when n-octylamine is used as a catalyst. Silica, when ethanol is used as a solvent, exhibits a more narrow pore size showing textures with a microstructure uniformly distributed with different porosity levels. However, when the aged-isopropanol gel is used, silica shows textures with a microstructure nonuniformly distributed.     

Preparation of nanosize silica in reverse micelles: ethanol produced during TEOS hydrolysis affects the microemulsion structure

Microemulsions have been widely used as microreactors for the synthesis of nanoparticles and mesoporous materials. The correlation between the microstructure of a microemulsion and the features of the obtained materials is the most intriguing problem. On this point, many investigations have their ground on the structure of the precursor microemulsion, i.e., the system before the reaction takes place. Nevertheless, any reactions usually involve the formation of byproducts (aside from the nanoparticles). Several of these byproducts (e.g., ions, amphiphilic molecules) could modify the microemulsion structure during the course of the reaction. Here we examine the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the water-in-oil microemulsion hexadecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/pentanol/hexane/water. Conductivity and NMR measurements performed during the course of the reaction, in combination with dynamic light scattering and pulsed field gradient spin-echo NMR investigation performed on the microemulsion upon the addition of ethanol, indicate that a byproduct (ethanol) modifies the microreactor structure. The ethanol produced by the TEOS hydrolysis drives the microemulsion structure from small disconnected reverse micelles toward large connected aggregates until (for high enough ethanol loading) the system phase separates into two coexisting liquid phases (a dense interconnected network and a dilute reverse micellar phase).     

Synthesis of nanoporous graphite-derived carbon-silica composites by a mechanochemical intercalation approach

A mechanochemical intercalation approach which applies a simple mechanical milling to induce intercalation reaction was applied to introduce controlled amount of tetraethoxylsilane (TEOS) into surfactant-preexpanded graphite oxide, and the relationships between the intercalation structure, the porosities of the calcined products, and the Si addition were examined. It was found that a small added amount of TEOS produced a more expanded ordered layer structure with the interlayer distance and silicon content increasing with the amount of TEOS added, although a large amount of added TEOS easily induces layer delamination, resulting in a less ordered structure. The silica structure in the composite is changed from a disordered structure having enhanced bond strain to a condensed silica network when the amount of TEOS added increases. The porosities of the final calcined samples increase with the increase of silicon content but then decrease slightly after reaching a maximum where silicon content starts to become constant, indicating that both silicon content and the composition state of silica particles and carbon layers play important roles in porosity formation.     

Spontaneous vesicles, disks, threadlike and spherical micelles found in the solubilization of DMPC liposomes by the detergent DTAC

Iron oxide/MCM-41 nanocomposites, Fe(2)O(3)/MCM-41, containing 5%, 10%, and 20% (w/w) iron oxide, were prepared via a direct nonhydrothermal method at room temperature. The preparations were preformed by using iron(III) nitrate, tetra-ethoxysilane (TEOS), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) mixed or unmixed with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). The produced materials were dried and calcined at 550 °C for 3 h. Test materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N(2) gas adsorption/desorption isotherms, small angle and wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicate that mixing of CTAB with DTAB does not harm the formation of blank MCM-41 structure. For the composite Fe(2)O(3)/MCM-41 materials, results showed formation of more stable MCM-41 structure with higher surface area and improved porosity in the presence of mixed (CTAB+DTAB) than in the presence of single (CTAB) surfactants for up to 10% Fe(2)O(3)/MCM-41 (w/w). This was explained in terms of the effect DTAB on contraction of the template micellar size to compensate for the expected size expansion upon the addition of ionic iron(III) nitrate precursor. Highly dispersed Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles were formed in all cases even with the highest iron oxide percentage. Formation of the nanocomposites was postulated to be determined by fast nucleation and slow growth of iron oxide species, which facilitated formation of well dispersed iron oxide nanoparticles inside and on the wall of the MCM-41 material.     

Direct synthesis and catalytic applications of ordered large pore aminopropyl-functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous materials

SBA-15 mesoporous silica has been functionalized with aminopropyl groups through a simple co-condensation approach of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) using amphiphilic block copolymers under acidic conditions. The organic-modified SBA-15 materials have hexagonal crystallographic order, pore diameter up to 60 A, and the content of aminopropyl groups up to 2.3 mmol g(-1). The influences of TEOS prehydrolysis period and APTES concentration on the crystallographic order, pore size, surface area, and pore volume were examined. TEOS prehydrolysis prior to the addition of APTES was found essential to obtain well-ordered mesoporous materials with amino functionality. The amount of APTES incorporated in the silica framework increased with the APTES concentration in the synthesis gel, while the ordering of the mesoporous structure gradually decreased. Analysis with TG, IR, and solid state NMR spectra demonstrated that the aminopropyl groups incorporated in SBA-15 were not decomposed during the preparation procedure and the surfactant P123 was fully removed through ethanol extraction. The modified SBA-15 was an excellent base catalyst in Knoevenagel and Michael addition reactions.     

Fabrication and characterization of TEOS-based silica aerogels prepared using rapid supercritical extraction

Silica aerogels were prepared using the precursor tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) via a rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) method. Multiple consistent batches of monolithic TEOS-based aerogels were fabricated via an 8-h RSCE process. Fabricating TEOS-based aerogels with an RSCE method offers some distinct advantages. One advantage is the relative simplicity of the RSCE approach: liquid precursors are mixed and poured into a metal mold in a hydraulic hot-press, where gelation, aging and extraction of liquid from the pores occur. The precursor recipe employs TEOS, ethanol, water, oxalic acid to catalyze hydrolysis, and ammonia to catalyze the subsequent polycondensation reactions. Another advantage is that reaction of TEOS to form sol gels yields ethanol as a byproduct. A process that releases ethanol, rather than methanol (as in tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS)-based aerogels) may be more appealing for commercial applications, involving scale-up of the process. The significantly lower cost of TEOS, compared to TMOS, is a considerable advantage. The TEOS-based RSCE aerogels are mesoporous and optically translucent, have bulk densities of 0.099(±0.003) g/cm³ and surface areas of 460(±10) m²/g. Signals observed in infrared and Raman spectra of the aerogels are consistent with Si–O framework bonds. Using scanning electron microscopy imaging, the surface morphology of the aerogel samples was imaged at magnifications up to 150 kX.     

一步可控合成二氧化硅纳米管和空心球

通过简单的溶胶凝胶法在相同体系中可控合成了新颖有序的二氧化硅纳米管和空心球,对制备二氧化硅纳米管的多种反应条件进行了系统研究。发现反应时间、溶液中水和乙醇比例、搅拌和滴加速度对形成管状结构都有着重要影响。同时,纳米管的形成机理研究表明,在醇水混合溶液中柠檬酸三铵晶体为细柱状形貌,其作为重要的结构导向剂为二氧化硅胶晶附着提供模板,从而形成管状结构,二氧化硅空心球也显示了相似的形成过程。     

SYNTHESIS OF MESOPOROUS POLY(STYRENE-co-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE)/SILICA HYBRID MATERIALS VIA A NONSURFACTANT-TEMPLATED SOL-GEL PROCESS*

Mesoporous poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid materials have been prepared. The synthesis wasachieved by the HCl-catalyzed sol-gel reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymerin the presence of 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) as a coupling agent and citric acid as a nonsurfactant template orpore-forming agent, followed by ethanol extraction. Characterization results from nitrogen sorption isotherms and powder X-ray diffraction indicate that polymer-modified mesoporous materials with large specific surface areas (e.g. 900 m~2/g) andpore volumes (e.g. 0.6 cm~3/g) could be prepared. As the citric acid concentration is increased, the specific surface areas, porevolumes and pore diameters of the hybrid materials increase.     

Characterization and catalytic-hydrogenation behavior of SiO2-embedded nanoscopic Pd, Au, and Pd-Au alloy colloids

Colloids embedded in a silica sol-gel matrix were prepared by using fully alloyed Pd-Au colloids, and pure Pd and Au colloids stabilized with tetraalkylammonium bromide following a modified sol-gel procedure with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent. Tetraethoxysilicate (TEOS) was used as the precursor for the silica support. The molar composition of the sol was TEOS/THF/H2O/HCl = 1:3.5:4:0.05 for the bimetallic Pd-Au and TEOS/THF/H2O/HCl = 1:4.5:4:0.02 for Pd and Au monometallic systems. After refluxing, the colloid was added as a 4.5 wt % solution in THF for Pd-Au, 10.2 wt % solution in THF for Pd and 8.4 wt % solution in THF for Au at room temperature. The gelation was carried out with vigorous stirring (4 days) under an Ar atmosphere. Following these procedures, bimetallic Pd-Au-SiO2 catalysts with 0.6 and 1 wt % metal, and monometallic Pd- and Au-SiO2 catalysts with 1 wt % metal were prepared. These materials were further treated following four different routes: 1) by simple drying, 2) in which the dried catalysts were calcined in air at 723 K and then reduced at the same temperature, 3) in which they were directly reduced in hydrogen at 723 K, and 4) in which the surfactant was extracted using an ethanol-heptane azeotropic mixture. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K, H2 chemisorption measurements, solid-state 1H, 13C, 29Si-CP/MAS-NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and 197Au M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The physical characterization by a combination of these techniques has shown that the size and the structural characteristics of the Pd-Au colloid precursor are preserved when embedded in an SiO2 matrix. Catalytic tests were carried out in selective hydrogenation of 3-hexyn-1-ol, cinnamaldehyde, and styrene. These data showed evidence that alloying Pd with Au in bimetallic colloids leads to enhanced activity and most importantly to improved selectivity. Also, the combination of the two metals resulted in catalysts that were very stable against poisoning, as was evidenced for the hydrogenation of styrene in the presence of thiophene.     

Surface modification of polyaniline using tetraethyl orthosilicate

A well-dispersible conducting polyaniline/silica hybrid is prepared by the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) on the surface of polyaniline in water/ethanol solution. It provides a simple and environmentally sound route for preparing the processable conducting polyaniline/silica hybrid at the nanometre level. The conductivity of polyaniline/silica hybrid is 2.43 S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C, and its powder is easily dispersed in the anhydrous ethanol or aqueous solution without any stabilizer. In addition, the structure, morphology and cyclic voltammorgram of this hybrid are also reported.     

Development of various PS-b-P4VP micellar morphologies: fabrication of inorganic nanostructures from micellar templates

A liquid-phase method for preparing uniform-sized silica nanospheres (SNSs) 12 nm in size and their three-dimensionally ordered arrangement upon solvent evaporation have recently been pioneered by us. Here we report the successful control of the sphere sizes in the wide range from 14 to 550 nm by the seed regrowth method. In this method, the dispersion of SNSs 14 nm in size as seeds was prepared in the emulsion system containing Si(OEt)(4) (TEOS), water and arginine under weakly basic conditions (pH 9-10). An appropriate portion of this dispersion is added to the solution containing water, ethanol and arginine, and then TEOS is added. The additional TEOS introduced into the regrowth system contributed only to the resumed growth of the seeds, not to the formation of new silica particles. The size of interparticle pores was finely tuned by changing the size of the spheres. The preparation of three-dimensionally ordered porous carbons by using the colloidal array of silica nanospheres as a template is also reported.     

溶胶－凝胶法制备超细SiO_2──制备参数对气凝胶织构性质的影响

ＳｉＯ_２气凝胶超细粉由ＴＥＯＳ（正硅酸乙酯）在乙醇溶液中水解聚合后经超临界流体干燥（ＳＣＦＤ）制得。本文考察了ＴＥＯＳ的浓度、水和ＴＥＯＳ的摩尔比以及焙烧温度对超细粉织构性能的影响。结果表明，超细ＳｉＯ_２的比表面积、总孔容、孔分布、最可几孔径及表现堆密度均随制备参数而改变。而以ＳｉＯ_２气凝胶超细粉体为基本载体材料的Ｃｏ／ＺｒＯ_２－ＳｉＯ_２催化剂显示出高的ＣＯ＋Ｈ_２合成重质烃的活性和选择性。     

Hydrothermal C-C bond formation and disproportionation of acetaldehyde with formic acid

Reaction pathways and kinetics of C2 (carbon-two) aldehyde, acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), and formic acid HCOOH or HOCHO, are studied in neutral and acidic subcritical water at 200-250 degrees C. Acetaldehyde is found to exhibit (i) the acid-catalyzed C-C bond formation between acetaldehyde and formic acid, which generates lactic acid (CH3CH(OH)COOH), (ii) the cross-disproportionation, where formic acid reduces acetaldehyde into ethanol, and (iii) the aldol condensation. The lactic acid formation is a green C-C bond formation, proceeding without any organic solvents or metal catalysts. The new C-C bond formation takes place between formic acid and aldehydes irrespective of the presence of alpha-hydrogens. The hydrothermal cross-disproportionation produces ethanol without base catalysts and proceeds even in acidic condition, in sharp contrast to the classical base-catalyzed Cannizzaro reaction. The rate constants of the reactions (i)-(iii) and the equilibrium constant of the lactic acid formation are determined in the temperature range of 200-250 degrees C and at HCl concentrations of 0.2-0.6 M (mol/dm(3)). The reaction pathways are controlled so that the lactic acid or ethanol yield may be maximized by tuning the reactant concentrations and the temperature. A high lactic acid yield of 68% is achieved when acetaldehyde and formic acid are mixed in hot water, respectively, at 0.01 and 2.0 M in the presence of 0.6 M HCl at 225 degrees C. The ethanol yield attained 75% by the disproportionation of acetaldehyde (0.3 M) and formic acid (2.0 M) at 225 degrees C in the absence of added HCl.