Preparation and Characterization of Three-dimensionally Ordered Crystalline Macroporous CeO2

Three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) materials are of great potential importance in catalysis, selective separation, sensor arrays and communications with optical band gaps1. Many results in the synthesis of 3DOM materials have been reported, such as closed-packed silica spheres or polystyrenes (PS) templating routes for silica2, metal oxides1-6 and metals7. Recently, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal crystal templates have been used to prepare 3DOM materials of metals8,…     

Dissipative structures formed in the course of drying the colloidal crystals of silica spheres on a cover glass

Macroscopic and microscopic dissipative structural patterns formed in the course of drying the deionized aqueous colloidal crystal suspensions of silica spheres (diameter: 103 nm) on a cover glass have been observed. Spoke-like and ring-like patterns are formed in the macroscopic scale; the former is the crack in the sphere film and the latter is the hill accumulated with spheres formed around the outside edge. The neighbored inter-spoke angle, thickness of the film, and other morphological parameters have been discussed as a function of sphere concentration, concentration of sodium chloride, and the inclined angle of the cover glass. Fractal patterns of the mud cracks are observed in the microscopic scale. Capillary forces between spheres at the air-liquid surface and the relative rates between the water flow at the drying front and the convection flow of spheres are important for the pattern formation. Electronic Publication     

Rigid nanoscopic containers for highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control

We demonstrate a novel strategy for the preparation of mesoporous silica-supported, highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control. The supporting mesoporous silica, functionalized by polyaminoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, is prepared by repeated Michael addition with methyl acrylates (MA) and amidation reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA), by using aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica as the starting material. The encapsulation of metal nanoparticles within the dendrimer-propagated mesoporous silica is achieved by the chemical reduction of metal-salt-impregnated dendrimer-mesoporous silica by using aqueous hydrazine. The site control of the metal or bimetal nanoparticles is accomplished by the localization of inter- or intradendrimeric nanoparticles within the mesoporous silica tunnels. The size of the encapsulated nanoparticles is controlled by their confinement to the nanocavity of the dendrimer and the mesopore. For Cu and Pd, particles locate at the lining of mesoporous tunnels, and have diameters of less than 2.0 nm. For Pd/Pt, particles locate at the middle of mesoporous tunnels and have diameters in the range of 2.0-4.2 nm. The Pd and Pd/Pt nanoparticles are very stable in air, whereas the Cu nanoparticles are stable only in an inert atmosphere.     

A critical reappraisal of recent communications on the hydrodynamic characterization of silica (aerosil) hydrosols

Different results from recent communications on the hydrodynamic characterization of ultrasonicated silica (®Aerosil) hydrosols led to a critical reappraisal of the data.It can be concluded that the degree of dispersion achievable in pyrogenic (Aerosil) hydrosols by ultrasonication is highly sensitive to the detailed parameters of the dispersion process. Characterization in terms ofabsolute numbers of a limiting particle morphology, corresponding to minima of aggregate size, porosity and number of primary particles in the aggregate is not possible.The most straightforward approach for hydrodynamic characterization seems to be a combination of sedimentation and diffusion data.Other approaches using a combination of sedimentation and viscosity data underestimate the particle dimensions. Moreover, they are quite arbitrary since the final result depends upon the proper choice between several equations for fitting the viscosity concentration dependence; the most rigorous approach seems to be an extended Einstein equation which has recently been adapted to particle aggregates.     

Nanostructured pure gamma-Fe2O3 via forced precipitation in an organic solvent

Pure maghemite, gamma-Fe(2)O(3), was prepared as ultra fine particles in the nanometer-sized range via the forced precipitation method in an organic solvent. The precipitation of iron(III) ions, from iron(III) chloride in 2-propanol led selectively to highly dispersed particles of ferrihydrite, which upon treatment with temperatures higher than 200 degrees C under dynamic vacuum resulted in high-surface-area particles of gamma-Fe(2)O(3). Precipitation in water also led to ferrihydrite, but the final product, after heating at 300 degrees C, contained a mixture of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) and alpha-Fe(2)O(3) (hematite). The precipitation from iron(III) nitrate in water resulted in goethite which was converted to hematite upon heating. On the other hand, the final product in 2-propanol was a mixture of maghemite and hematite. The products were characterized by FTIR, TGA, XRD, and gas sorption analysis. Nitrogen gas adsorption studies for the pure gamma-Fe(2)O(3) samples revealed mesoporous particles with high surface areas in the range of 70-120 m(2) g(-1) after heat treatment at 300 degrees C. The gamma-Fe(2)O(3) particles retained their gamma-phase as well as their mesoporous structure at relatively high temperatures, as high as 400 degrees C.     

INVERSE OPALINE STRUCTURE TITANIA PHOTONIC CRYSTALS BY FUNCTIONALLY MODIFIED COLLOIDAL CRYSTALS TEMPLATING

Ordered macroporous titania photonic crystals （PCs） and photonic balls were fabricated by functional modified polymer colloidal crystals. The TiO2 PCs and balls formed through this method exhibit no cracks and lacunae in large areas on their surface and their inner structures.     

DNA tile based self-assembly: building complex nanoarchitectures.

DNA tile based self-assembly provides an attractive route to create nanoarchitectures of programmable patterns. It also offers excellent scaffolds for directed self-assembly of nanometer-scale materials, ranging from nanoparticles to proteins, with potential applications in constructing nanoelectronic/nanophotonic devices and protein/ligand nanoarrays. This Review first summarizes the currently available DNA tile toolboxes and further emphasizes recent developments toward self-assembling DNA nanostructures with increasing complexity. Exciting progress using DNA tiles for directed self-assembly of other nanometer scale components is also discussed.     

An effective cross-linking of polymer layer on monodisperse, poly(maleic anhydride-styrene)-modified colloidal silica particles and properties of the composite

Summary  The cross-linkings of the surface polymer layer on mono disperse, poly(maleic anhydride-styrene)-modified silica particles by the reaction with diisocyanate were studied. The extent of cross-linking was estimated by the weight decrease by immersing the particles in the buffer solution of pH 2.0, 4.0 and 9.0 at a room temperature for 24 h. The reaction of the polymer-modified silica with 1,6-diisocyanatohexane afforded relatively stable composite particles which lost less than 5 wt% of the polymer in aqueous solution in the pH range 2.0–9.0. The diisocyanate was a preferable cross-linker to 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene in terms of stability in acidic or basic aqueous solution. The flexibility of the cross-linker molecule possibly plays an important role in the cross-linking reaction. The carboxyl and amino groups were formed by treating the cross-linked composite particles with diluted HCl solution; 5–6 and 0.5–1.1 μmol g^-1, respectively. The cross-linked composite particles exhibited the characteristic property of ζ-potential, −44 to −47 mV and −102 to −107 mV in a neutral aqueous solution and ethanol, respectively. Received: 26 May 1997 Accepted: 4 August 1997