Composite SiO2—Iron Oxide Materials for Magnetically Intensified Adsorption

Composite SiO₂—iron oxide materials were prepared by three experimental procedures. In the first case, the iron oxides were precipitated during a sol-gel process. In the second case, a SiO₂ matrix was initially obtained, and the iron oxides were formed by thermal treatment after impregnation of a soluble Fe²⁺ salt in the previously processed matrix. In the third method, ferrite powders, prepared by wet chemical method, were embedded into a SiO₂ based sol-gel matrix. Materials with convenient porosity and nano-sized iron oxide content could be prepared using the mentioned methods. The prepared composite has been tested for arsenic(V) removal.     

Fe3O4–SiO2 nanocomposites obtained via alkoxide and colloidal route

The magnetic nanocomposite materials represent an important class of nanomaterials extensively studied nowadays due to their varied applications from medical diagnostic to storage information. The iron oxides in silica matrix systems are highly investigated. The sol-gel method is a suitable way of preparation of Fe₃O₄-SiO₂ nanocomposite materials, since this method allowed the preparation of nanocomposite materials with narrow size distribution of magnetite in silica matrix. In the present work, nanocomposite materials in the Fe₃O₄-SiO₂ system were prepared by sol-gel method via alkoxide and aqueous route. As SiO₂ sources, tetraethoxysilan (TEOS) for the alkoxide route, as well as silica sol Ludox (30%) for the aqueous route, were used. This study shows the influence of the type of silica matrix on the structure, size, and distribution of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in the Fe₃O₄-SiO₂ systems. The gels were annealed at 550°C in order to consolidate the matrices. The structural characterization of the obtained materials via the two preparation routes was performed by DTA/TGA analysis, X-ray diffraction, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED).     

Thermoluminescent Properties of Tridymite SiO2 : Al3+, Eu3+

SiO₂ crystals have been used in electroluminescence devices and thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeters. However, their emission mechanisms have not yet been clearly explained. Recently, it has become possible to obtain amorphous, highly pure, SiO₂ prepared by the sol-gel method. The emission mechanism of TL was investigated using Al³⁺ and/or Eu³⁺-doped SiO₂ crystalline samples prepared by heat-treating under much lower temperature than the melting point of SiO₂. The TL spectrum of Eu³⁺-doped sample had main peaks due to the electron transitions from ⁵D₂ to ⁷F₅ (ca. 570 nm, yellow peak) and from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂ (ca. 610 nm, red peak). The yellow peak intensity has a maximum value in the SiO₂ doped with near 1 mmol% of Eu₂O₃, while the red peak intensity was almost constant. These facts suggest that bright yellow emission of SiO₂TL phosphor is synthesized by the diffusion of Eu³⁺ ion in SiO₂ matrix prepared by sol-gel method.     

Dehydrogenation of methanol to methyl formate over CuO?SiO2 gel catalyst

CuO−SiO₂ gel catalysts were prepared by sol-gel method and were characterized by UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). It was found that the copper loadings have a strong influence on the reduction and catalytic properties of CuO−SiO₂ gels. A great part of copper oxide is highly dispersed as confirmed by TPR, XRD and DRS data. The catalysts are shown to be active and selective toward methyl formate formation in methanol dehydrogenation due to the presence of highly dispersed copper over SiO₂.     

Hydrophilic nature and sorption-diffusion properties of nanocomposite hybrid polysulfone films

Hybrid nanocomposite films containing silica (??11.4 wt.%) or titania (??18.8 wt.%) in the polymer matrix were prepared by the sol-gel method using the hydrolytic polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane and tetrabutoxysilane in a THF solution of aromatic polymer, polysulfone (PSF). The influence of the oxide nature and the film composition on the structure, the interaction of the polymer with oxides, hydrophilicity, and sorption-diffusion properties of the hybrid films were studied by FTIR spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and a complex of other physicochemical methods. The absence of chemical or intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the polymer and oxide particles in the PSF films was shown. The average size of the oxides (SiO₂, ??20 nm; TiO₂, ??90 nm) in the films and roughness of their surface (??0.2?C0.8 nm) were determined. The introduction of oxides into the polymer matrix increases the hydrophilic properties and the ability of the PSF films to swell in water; the diffusion coefficients of water and permeability of water vapor in the PSF films also increase. Titania also induces a more considerable change in the structure of the polymer matrix and more strongly affects the sorption-diffusion properties of the hybrid films in aqueous solutions of THF. All prepared nanocomposite films PSF/SiO₂ and PSF/TiO₂ are capable of extracting an organic component from aqueous solutions and can be used as sorbents and membrane films for the removal of organic substances from the aqueous medium.     

Synthesis and Structural Analysis of Au-Doped TiO2/SiO2 Mixed Oxide Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Process

The systematic modifications of silica matrix as a function of modified Ti-alkoxide contents (Au nanocrystals doped TiO₂/SiO₂ mixed oxide thin films) have been investigated by the sol-gel process. A structural analysis on the various steps of the hydrolysis-condensation process as well as solid powder is determined by IR, UV-Visible, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. ²⁹Si MAS spectra are characterized by broad lines for the three types of sites. Different distributions (Q ², Q ³, and Q ⁴ units) observed in the TiO₂/SiO₂ (1 : 3) sample. Proper control of the process condition, modifying the Ti alkoxide as a less reactive precursor, improves the increase the amount of Ti–O–Si bonding in the silica network of TiO₂/SiO₂ mixed oxide matrices and the distribution of metal oxides. This method can be used for the preparation of homogeneous metal and metal-metal alloy nanocrystals deposition from mixed oxide thin films.     

Structure and Electron Spin Resonance of Annealed Sol-Gel Glasses Containing Ag

In this work, SiO₂ samples with silver, prepared using the sol-gel method, were analyzed after being thermally treated in air in the range of 100 to 800°C. The sol-gel starting solutions were prepared by mixing tetra-ethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS), water and ethanol. Samples with 4 different H₂O/TEOS molar ratios (3.3, 5, 7.5 and 11.7 respectively) and with different nominal Ag concentrations were prepared (1, 2 and 4%vol. of Ag). It was found that upon annealing, different silver spices were formed, such as Ag₂ ⁺, Ag⁺, Ag°, and metallic silver aggregates. The identification of these spices was carried out by means of X-ray diffraction, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), optical emission and optical absorption. It was also found that the specific type of silver spices observed depends on the structure of the SiO₂ matrix and on the annealing temperatures. It was found that samples prepared from precursor solutions with a low H₂O/TEOS ratio have a more open structure, and therefore silver diffuses faster and forms agglomerates at lower temperatures. Samples prepared from solutions with larger H₂O/TEOS ratios have a more dense structure, which allows the formation of atomic or molecular spices in addition to silver particles. A systematic study of this system was carried out using EPR on samples prepared from solutions having different H₂O/TEOS molar ratios, various Ag concentrations and subjected to different thermal treatments.     

Synthesis and characterization of Fe2O3/SiO2 nanocomposites

Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ nanocomposites based on fumed silica A-300 (S_BET = 337 m²/g) with iron oxide deposits at different content were synthesized using Fe(III) acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)₃) dissolved in isopropyl alcohol or carbon tetrachloride for impregnation of the nanosilica powder at different amounts of Fe(acac)₃ then oxidized in air at 400–900 °C. Samples with Fe(acac)₃ adsorbed onto nanosilica and samples with Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ including 6–17 wt% of Fe₂O₃ were investigated using XRD, XPS, TG/DTA, TPD MS, FTIR, AFM, nitrogen adsorption, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry methods. The structural characteristics and phase composition of Fe₂O₃ deposits depend on reaction conditions, solvent type, content of grafted iron oxide, and post-reaction treatments. The iron oxide deposits on A-300 (impregnated by the Fe(acac)₃ solution in isopropanol) treated at 500–600 °C include several phases characterized by different nanoparticle size distributions; however, in the case of impregnation of A-300 by the Fe(acac)₃ solution in carbon tetrachloride only α-Fe₂O₃ phase is formed in addition to amorphous Fe₂O₃. The Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ materials remain loose (similar to the A-300 matrix) at the bulk density of 0.12–0.15 g/cm³ and S_BET = 265–310 m²/g.     

Synthesis of SiO2 thin films by sol-gel method using photoirradiation and molecular structure analysis

The SiO₂ thin films were prepared by a process which combines a sol-gel method and photoirradiation. The HF etch rate and microhardness of a film prepared by this process were better than those of a film furnace-fired at same temperature. The Raman and ²⁹Si solid state NMR spectra of film prepared by this process were similar to those of a film furnace-fired at higher temperature. There are many unstable folded non-linear SiO₂ species in the film prepared at low temperature. On treatment at higher temperature, unstable folded non-linear Si-O-Si rearranges to the stable linear Si-O-Si bond. Photoirradiation enhances this structure change. The process provided denser and harder SiO₂ thin films, even at low temperature, than the conventional furnace-firing method did.     

溶胶-凝胶伴随相分离制备SiO2多孔块体

以正硅酸甲酯(TMOS)为前驱体, 0.01 mol·L^-1盐酸(HCl)为催化剂, 环氧丙烷(PO)为凝胶促进剂, 粘均分子量(M_v)为10000的聚氧化乙烯(PEO)为相分离诱导剂, 采用溶胶-凝胶伴随相分离制备SiO₂多孔块体材料,利用差热分析(DTA)、傅里叶变换红外(FT-IR)光谱、扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、汞压、N₂吸附/脱附等测试技术对所制得的SiO₂多孔块体进行了表征, 探讨了环氧化物调控溶胶-凝胶以及PEO诱导相分离机理. 结果表明, 加入PEO能诱导SiO₂凝胶发生相分离, 当PEO/TMOS摩尔比为0.0018时, 可以获得共连续多孔结构的SiO₂块体材料, 其大孔孔径分布在1-3 μm之间, 比表面积达719 m²·g^-1, 孔体积为0.48 m³·g^-1. 环氧丙烷因其环氧原子的强亲核性和不可逆的开环反应, 促进溶胶-凝胶转换, 同时借助吸附在SiO₂低聚物上的PEO诱导SiO₂凝胶相分离, 从而制备共连续大孔及骨架结构的多孔块体.     

The Effect of SiO2 Addition on the Grain Size and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Thin Films

The uniform transparent TiO₂/SiO₂ nanometer composite thin films were prepared via sol-gel method on the soda lime glass substrates, and were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FTIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET surface areas. It was found that the addition of SiO₂ to TiO₂ thin films could suppress the grain growth of TiO₂ crystal and increase the hydroxyl content of the surface of TiO₂ films. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared TiO₂/SiO₂ composite thin films increases for SiO₂ content of less than 5 mol%.     

The synthesis and characteristic study of 6FDA-6FHP-NLO polyimide/SiO2 nanohybrid materials

Hybrid nanocomposite films of silica (SiO₂) in polyimide (PI) from 4,4^′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic arhydride (6FDA), 2,2-Bis (3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (6FHP) and nonlinear optical (NLO) molecule have been successfully fabricated by an in situ sol-gel process. The silica content in the hybrid films was varied from 0 to 22.5 wt%. These nanocomposite films exhibit fair good optical transparency. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results confirm the formation of SiO₂ particles in PI matrix. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the SiO₂ phase is well dispersed in the polymer matrix. Their glass transition behavior and thermal stability were investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TG).     

ZrO2?SiO2 mixed oxides as supports for platinum catalysts

Mixed ZrO₂–SiO₂ oxides were prepared by the sol-gel method and used as supports for platinum catalysts. Activity tests show that Pt/ZrO₂–SiO₂ catalysts can be used in the aromatization of n-heptane.     

Preparation and characterization of CuO/SiO2 and NiO/SiO2 with bimodal pore structure by sol-gel method

CuO/SiO₂ and NiO/SiO₂ with bimodal pore structure were prepared by sol-gel reactions of Tetra-methoxysilane (TMOS) and the respective metal nitrate in the presence of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) with an average molecular weight of 10 000 and the catalyst of acetic acid. In this process, the interconnected macroporous morphology was formed when transitional structures of spinodal decomposition were frozen by the sol-gel transition of silica. The addition of copper and nickel into the silica-PEO system had a negligible effect on the morphology formation. In gel formation, it was found that NiO crystalline sizes in the samples increased with decreasing Si/Ni molar ratio. It was considered that PEO interacted with both silica and nickel cations. In the CuO/SiO₂ with the presence of PEO_, CuO crystalline sizes were larger than those of NiO/SiO_2. It was considered that there was no obvious interaction between the Cu cation and PEO, most of the copper ions in wet silica gel were present in the outer solution. They easily aggregated as copper salts in the drying process of wet gel and decomposed into CuO particles in heating. While in the CuO/SiO₂ with the absence of PEO, the Cu was selectively entrapped as small particles in the gel skeleton due to the interaction between Cu aqua complex and silica gel network.     

Effect of Temperature on Cd2+ Sorption by Mixed Oxides of Iron and Silicon

The current study focuses on the synthesis and sorption properties of two mixed oxides of iron and silicon prepared by physical mixing (M₁) and sequential precipitation methods (M₂). Both the mixed oxides were synthesized from equimolar ratios of Fe(OH)₃ and SiO₂ and characterized for surface area, EDX, XRD and PZC. The surface area, micropore volume and average pore width of the oxide M₁ were higher as compared to the oxide M₂. However, potentiometric titrations revealed that mixed oxide synthesized by this method had a very high capacity towards Cd²⁺ ions as compared to the mixed oxide M₁. Sorption of Cd²⁺ ions at pH 5 on mixed oxide, M₂ was found to increase with temperature in the range 288 to 318 K. Langmuir equation was found applicable to the sorption data with R²>0.99. Entropy (ΔS^?), enthalpy (ΔH^?) and free energy changes (ΔG^?) were calculated which revealed the process to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature.     

Application of Sol-Gel Method to Preparation of Ultra-Uniform Co-Based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Reaction

Uniformly dispersed Co/SiO₂ catalysts (10–60 wt% on metal basis) were prepared by the sol-gel method, and used for the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis in slurry phase at 503 K and 1 MPa in a flow of synthesis gas (H₂/CO = 2/1, W/F = 10 g-catal·h/mol). The catalysts were characterized by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and chemisorption. Although CO conversion over the unpromoted catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method was lower than the conventional catalysts prepared by impregnation, the catalytic activity of the former catalysts was more stable than the latter catalysts. The conversion was improved drastically, when 0.01–1 wt% of Ir or Ru (on metal basis) was added to the catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method. The TPR and XPS spectra and the H₂ chemisorption revealed that the noble metal addition was responsible for the reduction of Co particles in the catalysts. It is supposed that the durability of the promoted catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method was ascribed to the high dispersion of Co particles stabilized on the catalyst surface.     

ZrO4/SiO2-Al2O3催化肉桂醛MPV转移加氢性能

以九水合硝酸铝（Al（NO₃）₃·9H₂O）与正硅酸乙酯（TEOS）为前驱盐,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备一系列不同Al₂O₃含量的SiO₂-Al₂O₃复合氧化物,并通过浸渍硝酸氧锆引入ZrO₂,制备ZrO₂/SiO₂-Al₂O₃复合氧化物催化剂,考察催化剂在肉桂醛（CAL）MPV转移加氢中的催化性能,并结合N₂物理吸附、X射线粉末衍射（XRD）、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、NH₃-程度升温脱附（NH₃-TPD）、Py-原位红外（Py-IR）等技术,研究催化剂结构、织构以及表面性质与其催化性能间的构效关系.研究表明,所制备的催化剂均以L酸为主,并含有少量B酸中心,这使得加氢产物以肉桂醇（COL）为主,并含有少量1-苯丙烯-2-丙基醚（CPE）.Al₂O₃含量不仅影响催化剂表面的酸中心数量,而且对催化剂的织构参数有较大影响.随Al₂O₃含量的增加,催化剂表面L酸与B酸中心均有所增加,而孔径则持续变小,这使得催化反应呈现CAL转化率先增加后减少、目标产物COL选择性先稍有减小后有所增加的趋势.在Si/Al比为2时,催化剂具有最优的催化性能,优化反应条件下,CAL转化率达96%,目标产物COL选择性达90%.     

Preparation and properties of SiO2-TiO2 thin films from silicic acid and titanium tetrachloride

The preparation of SiO₂-TiO₂ thin films by the sol-gel method using silicic acid and titanium tetrachloride as starting materials was studied. The homogeneous sols were obtained by the condensation reaction of silicic acid with titanium tetrachloride in methanol-tetrahydrofuran. The dipcoating of slide glasses and silicon wafers followed by heat treatment gave oxide thin films of 88–93% transmittance, 3000–4500 Å thickness, and 1.45–1.80 refractive index, depending on heat-treatment temperature and TiO₂ content. FT-IR measurement showed that the Si-O-Ti bond is formed even in the sol and films. The variations of film thickness and refractive index on transformation from the gels into the oxides were found to be quite low.     

Towards Microwave Absorbing Metal-Oxide Nanocomposites: The Problem of Metal/Matrix Reaction

Thermostable microwave absorbing materials are of considerable interest for the applications with the tailored radar cross-section. Nanocomposites metal (Co, Fe)-dielectric (Al₂O₃, Al₂O₃2SiO₂, 3Al₂O₃2SiO₂) prepared by sol-gel route have been studied by electron microscopy and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The relationships between the micro/meso porosity, the composition and the state of the matrix precursor and the metal particle size are discussed with emphasis on the oxidation of nanoparticles. The size are discussed with emphasis on the oxidation of nanoparticles. Fe-based nanocomposites are obtained only using microporous host matrices. The interfacial reaction between iron nitrate solution precursor and host matrix promotes the formation of -(Fe_1-XAl₉)₂O₃ phase. The metal content is maximized by the use of highly concentrate iron solution and/or mixing with cobalt nitrate, in which case alloying particles are obtained.     

Sol-gel prepared copper doped SiO2 glasses

SiO₂ glasses doped with nano-sized copper particles were prepared through sol-gel method. Samples with nominal composition xCu–(1–x)SiO₂ (x=0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4) were prepared by hydrolyzing tetraethylorthosilicate with various amounts of Cu(NO₃)₂. The dried gels were heat treated at 400, 500, 600, 700°C for 10 hrs under flowing 5% H₂-95% N₂ mixture gas to reduce Cu⁺² ions to metallic copper. The amorphous nature of the SiO₂ matrix was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The size of particulate copper metal, which was determined by transmission electron microscopy, increases with the temperature of heat treatment and the copper content. The local structure of SiO₂ matrix was probed by FTIR. The silica matrix has no major structural change for gels heat treated at different temperatures and with different copper contents.