Synthesis of nanoporous silica aerogel by ambient pressure drying

A crack-free silica aerogel monolith was fabricated from a cheap water glass derived silicic acid solution by adding glycerol, which served as a drying control chemical additive (DCCA). The OH surfaces of the wet gel with glycerol were modified using a TMCS/n-hexane mixture followed by solvent exchange from water to n-hexane. The obtained surface modified wet gel was dried at 75 °C under ambient pressure. The addition of glycerol appears to give the wet gel a more homogeneous microstructure (larger pore size and uniform size distribution) as well as enhanced stiffness. However, glycerol also retards surface modification and solvent exchange. The aerogel synthesized with glycerol added to the silica sol maintained a relatively low bulk density compared with the aerogels aged in a mixed ethanol (EtOH)/TEOS solution. The reproducibility of aerogel production was further improved in the aerogel synthesized with glycerol added to the silica sol and aged in a 70%EtOH/30%TEOS solution.     

原位法常压干燥制备疏水SiO2气凝胶及其热稳定性

在正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)酸碱两步催化的溶胶-凝胶过程中, 加入干燥控制化学添加剂(DCCA)N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)和三甲基氯硅烷(TMCS)的混合溶液, 进行原位疏水改性处理, 并结合常压干燥工艺制备了高比表面积的疏水SiO2气凝胶. 利用N2物理吸附, 全自动X射线衍射仪(XRD), 傅立叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR), 扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等对样品的形貌结构进行了表征. 实验结果表明, 原位疏水改性比非原位疏水改性制备的SiO2气凝胶具有更大的比表面积, 可达979 m2·g-1, 气凝胶表面存在憎水性基团—CH3, 有良好的疏水性. 500 ℃热处理后, 气凝胶因失去大量的—CH3基团, 由憎水性转为亲水性; 800 ℃高温热处理后, 疏水SiO2气凝胶仍处于非晶态, 具有良好的热稳定性能.     

The Peculiarities of Silica Aerogel Production Using Azeotropic Mixtures

At the first time it was carried out the theoretical researches regarding pathways to get into a supercritical region at the ambient pressure with the main aim to avoid expensive and hazardous supercritical drying process and to make a silica aerogel production in whole more economical and commercial. These investigations based on fundamental knowledge about the critical phenomena in multicomponent systems. The representation of phase states in such systems by graphical images was used for the estimation of LV (x_L = x_V) azeotrope influence on SLV and L?V equilibria. In the course of empiric selection of azeotropic mixtures the negative azeotropes advantage over positive ones was determined and grounded in theory. We report on the synthesis of hydrophobic silica aerogel by ambient pressure drying (APD) procedure, which involves two-step sol–gel process with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a silica precursor and isopropanol as the solvent and an elaborated flow chart using both types of azeotropes as the pore fluids. Guided by receiving our theoretical investigation, we obtained transparent crack-free silica aerogel samples with specific surface in the range of 711–913 m²/g, average pore diameter of ～95–137 nm, and density of ca. 0.39–0.081 g/cm³.     

Effect of sepiolite fiber on the structure and properties of the sepiolite/silica aerogel composite

Sepiolite fiber-reinforced silica aerogel composites for thermal insulators were prepared by dispersing sepiolite fiber in silica sol, aging, solvent exchanging, and drying in supercritical fluid. The surface treated sepiolite fiber and sepiolite/silica aerogel composite were characterized by scanning electron microscope; transmission electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influence of surface treated sepiolite fiber on the mechanical and thermal properties of the aerogel composite was studied. The results indicate the hydroxyl groups on silica sol particles surface able to condense with the hydroxyls of sepiolite fibers with forming Si–O–Si between sepiolite fibers and aerogel matrix in the sol–gel process, which achieves excellent interfacial interaction in the sepiolite/silica aerogel composite, so the mechanical properties of the aerogel composite have been improved effectively without sacrificing much thermal insulating performance.     

Optically transparent silica aerogels based on sodium silicate by a two step sol–gel process and ambient pressure drying

Interest in improving the optical transmission of sodium silicate-based aerogels by ambient pressure drying led to the synthesis of aerogels using a two-step sol–gel process. To produce optically transparent silica aerogel granules, NH₄F (1 M) and HCl (4 M) were used as hydrolyzing and condensation catalysts, respectively. The silica aerogels were characterized by their bulk density, porosity (%), contact angle and thermal conductivity. Optical transmission of as synthesized aerogels was studied by comparing the photos of aerogel granules. Scanning electron microscopic study showed the presence of fractal structures in these aerogels. The degree of transparency in two step sol–gel process-based aerogels is higher than the conventional single step aerogels. The N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis depicts that the two step sol–gel based aerogels have large surface areas. Optically transparent silica aerogels with a low density of ∼0.125 g/cc, low thermal conductivity of ∼0.128 W/mK and higher Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area of ∼425 m²/g were obtained by using NH₄F (1 M), HCl (4 M), and a molar ratio of Na₂SiO₃::H₂O::trimethylchlorosilane of 1::146.67::9.46. The aerogels retained their hydrophobicity up to 500 °C.     

Effective preparation of crack-free silica aerogels via ambient drying

Effective ambient-drying techniques for synthesizing crack-free silica aerogel bulks from the industrial waterglass have been developed. Silica wet gels were obtained from aqueous colloidal silica sols prepared by ion-exchange of waterglass solution (4–10 wt% SiO₂). Crack-free monolithic silica aerogel disks (diameter of 22 mm and thickness of 7 mm) were produced via solvent exchange/surface modification of the wet gels using isopropanol/trimethylchlorosilane/n-Hexane solution, followed by ambient drying. The effects of the silica content in sol and the molar ratio of trimethylchlorosilane/pore water on the morphology and property of final aerogel products were also investigated. The porosity, density, and specific surface area of silica aerogels were in the range of 92–94%, 0.13–0.16 g/cm³, and ∼675 m²/g, respectively. The degree of springback during the ambient drying processing of modified silica gels was 94%.     

Preparation and properties investigation of PMMA/silica composites derived from silicic acid

Hybrid materials based on silicic acid and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were prepared by in situ bulk polymerization of a silicic acid sol and MMA mixture. Silicic acid sol was obtained by tetrahydrofuran (THF) extraction of silicic acid from water. Silicic acid was prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of sodium silicate in the presence of 3.6 M HCl. As a comparative study, PMMA composites filled by silica particles, which were derived from calcining the silicic acid gel, were prepared by a comparable in situ polymerization. Each set of PMMA/silica composites was subjected to thermal and mechanical studies. Residual THF in PMMA/silicic acid composites impacted the properties of the polymer composites. With increase in silica content, the PMMA composites filled with silica particles showed improved thermal and mechanical properties, whereas a decrease in thermal stability and mechanical strength was found for PMMA composites filled with silicic acid dissolved in THF. With a better compatibility with polymer matrix, silicic acid sol shows better reinforcement than silica particles in PMMA films prepared via blending of the corresponding THF solutions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Viscosity,particle size distribution,and structural investigation of tetramethyloxysilane/2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate sols during the sol–gel process with acid and base catalysts

The tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)/2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hybrid gels were synthesized with acid and base catalysts, via the in situ polymerization of HEMA, with and without the cosolvent methanol. With methanol in the TMOS/HEMA sol, the enhanced esterification and depolymerization reactions of the silanols resulted in a slower growth of silica particles. The silica particles that were synthesized with an acid catalyst were less than 40 nm. The thermal resistance of the poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) chains was enhanced by the addition of colloidal silica. The Fourier transform infrared characterizations and the exothermal peaks on the differential scanning calorimetry traces of these hybrid gels indicated chemical hybridization occurring as a result of condensation of the colloid silica and PHEMA at higher temperatures. Hence, the residual weight content of the hybrid gel after its synthesis with the base catalyst was even higher than the content of TMOS in the hybrid sol. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3476–3486, 2004     

Production of low-density sodium silicate-based hydrophobic silica aerogel beads by a novel fast gelation process and ambient pressure drying process

We report a method to synthesize low-density transparent mesoporous silica aerogel beads by ambient pressure drying (APD). The beads were prepared by acid–base sol–gel polymerization of sodium silicate in aqueous ammonia solution via the ball dropping method (BDM). To minimize shrinkage during drying, wet silica beads were initially prepared; their surfaces were then modified using trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) via simultaneous solvent exchange and surface modification. The effects of the volume percentage (%V) of TMCS on the physical and textural properties of the beads were investigated. The specific surface area and cumulative pore volume of the silica aerogel beads increased with an increase in the %V of TMCS. Silica aerogel beads with low packing bed density (0.081 g/cm³), high surface area (917 m²/g), and large cumulative pore volume (2.8 cm³/g) was obtained when 10%V TMCS was used. Properties of the final product were examined by FE-SEM, TEM, BET, and TG–DT analyses. Surface chemical modifications were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The hydrophobic silica aerogel beads were thermally stable up to 411 °C. We discuss our results and compare our findings for modified versus unmodified silica beads.     

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.     

Hydrophobic Silica Aerogels Strengthened with Nonwoven Fibers

Hydrophobic silica aerogels were prepared via a sol‐gel process by surface modification at ambient pressure. Nonwoven fibers were distributed inside the silica aerogels as a composite to act as a supporting skeleton which increased the mechanical property of the silica aerogels. The morphology and pore structure of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption analyzer. The contact angle and the adsorption capacities of the composites were also determined. The results show that silica aerogels dispersed uniformly and maintained high porosity in the aerogel‐fiber composites. They have excellent hydrophobic properties and are excellent adsorptive materials.     

Template-free sol–gel synthesis of high surface area mesoporous silica based catalysts for esterification of di-carboxylic acids

High surface area mesoporous silica based catalysts have been prepared by a simple hydrolysis/sol–gel process without using any organic template and hydrothermal treatment. A controlled hydrolysis of ethyl silicate-40, an industrial bulk chemical, as a silica precursor, resulted in the formation of very high surface area (719 m²/g) mesoporous (pore size 67 Å and pore volume 1.19 cc/g) silica. The formation of mesoporous silica has been correlated with the polymeric nature of the ethyl silicate-40 silica precursor which on hydrolysis and further condensation forms long chain silica species which hinders the formation of a close condensed structure thus creating larger pores resulting in the formation of high surface mesoporous silica. Ethyl silicate-40 was used further for preparing a solid acid catalyst by supporting molybdenum oxide nanoparticles on mesoporous silica by a simple hydrolysis sol–gel synthesis procedure. The catalysts showed very high acidity as determined by NH₃-TPD with the presence of Lewis as well as Brønsted acidity. These catalysts showed very high catalytic activity for esterification; a typical acid catalyzed organic transformation of various mono- and di-carboxylic acids with a range of alcohols. The in situ formed silicomolybdic acid heteropoly-anion species during the catalytic reactions were found to be catalytically active species for these reactions. Ethyl silicate-40, an industrial bulk silica precursor, has shown a good potential for its use as a silica precursor for the preparation of mesoporous silica based heterogeneous catalysts on a larger scale at a lower cost.     

DMF及热处理对常压制备Cu掺杂SiO2纳米复合气凝胶的影响

以正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为硅源, 硝酸铜(Cu(NO3)2·3H2O)为铜源, 通过在复合溶胶体系中引入干燥控制化学添加剂(DCCA)N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)进行原位共溶胶-凝胶, 结合常压干燥工艺, 制备出具有高比表面积(560 m2·g-1)的Cu-SiO2纳米复合气凝胶(含铜质量分数为5%). 研究了DMF对凝胶时间、干燥过程和复合气凝胶形态结构的影响, 利用N2物理吸附, 全自动X射线衍射(XRD)仪, 傅立叶变换红外(FT-IR)光谱仪, 透射电子显微镜(TEM)等对样品的形貌结构进行了表征. 实验结果表明, DMF能有效防止凝胶的开裂, 抑制颗粒团簇的产生, 使所得复合气凝胶的粒径减小, 比表面积增加, 微观结构更趋完善. 高温热处理后, Cu-SiO2中的铜物种仍高度分散于骨架网络中, 复合气凝胶显示出良好的热稳定性.     

Silylation of sodium silicate-based silica aerogel using trimethylethoxysilane as alternative surface modification agent

Trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) has been recognized as a good co-precursor to increase the degree of hydrophobicity during the synthesis of a silica aerogel because of its methyl groups. Therefore, some physical properties of silica aerogels, including the contact angle and porosity, were investigated using TMES as a co-precursor at different molar ratios with the main precursor such as tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) or tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). In contrast to TMES, most silylating agents such as hexamethyldisilazane (HMDZ) and trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) have been used for surface modification because of their ability to enhance the hydrophobicity of the aerogel surface. This work examines the silylation effect, which includes increasing hydrophobicity by TMES to determine the possibility of using it as an alternative silylating agent during ambient pressure drying in the synthesis of sodium silicate-based silica aerogel. In addition, the physical properties of sodium silicate-based silica aerogels with silylation under different TMES/TMCS volume ratio are investigated. The physical properties of sodium silicate-based aerogels can be changed by the TMES/TMCS volume ratio during the surface modification step. Aerogels with a high specific surface area (458?m²/g), pore volume (3.215?cm³/g), porosity (92.7%), and contact angle (131.8°) can be obtained TMES/TMCS volume ratio of 40/60.

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Synthesis of freestanding silica and titania-silica aerogels with ordered and disordered mesopores

Freestanding blocks of silica and titania-silica aerogels were prepared by the sol-gel method. It is possible to prepare crack-free, titania-silica aerogels with high titanium content by a careful control of the synthesis conditions. Prehydrolysis, complexation and polymer addition were used to adjust the hydrolysis and condensation rates of the silicon and titanium alkoxide precursors. Photoactive anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals with a large surface area (i.e., up to 300m²g⁻¹) were crystallized from the gel network by the high-temperature ethanol supercritical drying, and the resulting aerogel blocks were gas permeable and display a transition-regime diffusion behavior. Pore and volume shrinkages were observed in samples prepared by ethanol supercritical drying when the titanium content was increased resulting in a lower flux. Adding Pluronic P123 creates ordered mesopore domains and produces large pore aerogels even at high titanium contents. The photocatalytic oxidation reaction of trichloroethylene was performed by flowing the reactant gas mixture through the UV-irradiated aerogel blocks with excellent results.     

Elastic organic–inorganic hybrid aerogels and xerogels

Novel aerogels and xerogels with methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ, CH₃SiO_1.5) networks have been prepared by a modified sol–gel process using surfactant and urea as a phase-separation inhibitor and as an accelerator for the condensation reaction, respectively. Optimized aerogels dried under a supercritical condition not only showed the similar properties as conventional pure silica aerogels such as high transparency and porosity etc, but also demonstrated outstanding mechanical strength against compression; the aerogel drastically shrank upon loading and then recovered when unloaded, which is called a “spring-back” behavior. On ambient pressure drying, the wet gel also exhibited the similar response against compression stress originated from the capillary pressure, and thus xerogels with the comparative structure and properties to those of corresponding aerogels have also been obtained. This unusual mechanical behavior is attributed to the trifunctional flexible networks of MSQ, low silanol concentration which prevents the irreversible shrinkage, and high concentration of a hydrophobic methyl group directly attached to every silicon atom which helps re-expansion after the temporal shrinkage.     

勃姆石纤维增强二氧化硅气凝胶的制备及性能

以六水合氯化铝为铝源, 通过水热法制备勃姆石纤维; 以甲基三甲氧基硅烷和正硅酸乙酯为硅源共前驱体, 采用溶胶-凝胶法进而常压干燥制备了勃姆石纤维掺杂的二氧化硅复合气凝胶; 探究了勃姆石纤维的掺杂量对复合气凝胶性能的影响. 当勃姆石纤维的掺杂量(质量分数)为1%时, 气凝胶的机械性能最好, 能够承受17.1%的压缩应变, 最大压缩强度为1.12 MPa, 压缩模量高达2.57 MPa, 复合气凝胶在150 ℃仍然具有较低的导热系数(0.0670 W·m^?1·K^?1). 勃姆石纤维能够一定程度地抑制二氧化硅颗粒在高温下的烧结和相转变, 对二氧化硅气凝胶的耐高温性能有显著的提升作用, 复合气凝胶在1100 ℃高温热处理后, 仍能保持良好的隔热性能和较高的机械强度.     

Biocatalytic Gelation of Silica in the Presence of a Lipase

The effect of the lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (previously known as Pseudomonas cepacia) on the gelation kinetics and gel structure was examined on a type of silica aerogel made from a mixture of methyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane. For this purpose, gels were made with increasing concentrations of lipase in otherwise constant other conditions (pH, water and Si precursors concentrations). It was found that the enzyme accelerated the gelation kinetics, hence was participating in some way to the hydrolysis of the silica precursor. The structure of the gel was simultaneously modified to produce an increasing proportion of Q⁴ silicon sites.     

甲基丙烯酸(3-三甲氧基硅)丙酯-马来酸二丁基锡共聚物/二氧化硅杂化材料的制备

甲基丙烯酸（３ 三甲氧基硅）丙酯 马来酸二丁基锡共聚物／二氧化硅杂化材料的制备周文董建华丘坤元（北京大学化学与分子工程学院高分子科学与工程系，１００８７１北京）ＷｅｉＹｅｎ（危岩）（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＣｈｅｍｉｓｔｒｙ，Ｄｒｅｘｅｌ...     

A new photoluminescent silica aerogel based on N-hydroxysuccinimide–Tb(III) complex

The paper describes the preparation of a new photoluminescent silica aerogel by embedding a new Tb(III) complex in a silica matrix by using N-hydroxysuccinimide as ligand. The Tb(III) complex prepared at a metal to ligand ratio of 1:3 (mol%) exhibits strong photoluminescence as a result of specific radiative transitions within the Tb(III) cation with the most intense peak located at 543 nm due to ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₅ transition. The synthesized complex was doped in the silica matrix through a catalyzed sol–gel process. After ageing in ethanol, the alcogel was dried under supercritical regime by exchanging the ethanol with liquid carbon dioxide followed by supercritical evaporation. The leaching of the free complex from the alcogel during ageing and solvent exchange phases was found to be minimal most likely due to the interactions between chemical groups of complex with those specific to silica matrix. The obtained regular shaped monolithic aerogel preserved the remarkable photoluminescent properties and also improved the thermal stability of the free complex. Both, the free complex and doped aerogel were characterized through thermal analysis, FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. For comparison purposes, an undoped silica aerogel was also prepared and investigated through FT-IR, BET analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. The excellent photoluminescent properties might recommend the prepared aerogel for applications in optoelectronic devices where photonic conversion materials are required.