Diffusion of metal complexes inside of silica-surfactant nanochannels within a porous alumina membrane

The present paper describes diffusivities of a series of metal complexes inside of silica-surfactant nanochannels (channel diameter = 3.4 nm), which were formed within a porous alumina membrane by a surfactant-templated method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template surfactant. The metal complexes used in this study were Fe(CN)6(3-), Ru(NH3)6(3-), ferrocenecarboxylic acid (Fc-COO-), (ferrocenylmethyl)-trimethylammonium (Fc-NMe3+), N,N-(dimethylamminomethyl)ferrocene (Fc-NMe2), and ferrocene methanol (Fc-OH). Apparent diffusion coefficients of these metal complexes were estimated by measuring their mass transports through the silica-surfactant nanochannels. The estimated apparent diffusion coefficients were on the order of 10(-11) cm2 s(-1) for Fe(CN)6(3-) and Ru(NH3)6(3-), and these values were five orders of magnitude smaller than those in a bulk aqueous solution. For the ferrocene derivatives, the apparent diffusion coefficients of charged ferrocene derivatives are almost the same (5.3 x 10(-11) cm2 s(-1) for Fc-COO- and 5.4 x 10(-11) cm2 s(-1) for Fc-NMe3+), whereas neutral ferrocene derivatives (Fc-NMe2 and Fc-OH) show faster diffusion than the charged species. In addition, the apparent diffusion coefficient of Fc-NMe2 (27 x 10(-11) cm2 s(-1)) was about three times larger than that of Fc-OH (10 x 10-11 cm2 s(-1)). The difference in these diffusion coefficients is discussed by considering the mesostructure of the silica-surfactant nanochannels, that is, an ionic interface with cationic head groups of CTA and their counteranions, a hydrophobic interior of the micellar phase, and a silica framework. As a result, it is inferred that the slow diffusivities of the charged metal complexes are due to the electrostatic interaction between the charged species and the ionic interface, whereas less interaction between neutral ferrocenes and the ionic interface causes distribution of metal complexes into the hydrophobic micellar phase, which is a less viscous medium compared to the ionic interface, resulting in the faster diffusivities of the neutral species.     

Uniform gold nanorod arrays from polyethylenimine-coated alumina templates

Monolithic Au nanorod arrays can be grown by electrodeposition in Au-backed nanoporous alumina templates using polyethylenimine (PEI) as an adhesion layer, with excellent height control between 300 nm and 1.4 microm. The local height distribution can be extremely narrow with relative standard deviations well below 2%. The uniform growth rate appears to be determined by the adsorbed PEI matrix, which controls the growth kinetics of the grains comprising the nanorods. The nanorods can be retained as free-standing 2D arrays after careful removal of the AAO template. Reflectance spectroscopy reveals a collective plasmon mode with a maximum near 1.2 microm, in accord with recent calculations for 2D arrays of closely spaced cylindrical nanoparticles.     

"面包圈"状高有序度大孔径介孔分子筛SBA-15的合成

介孔材料因其高度有序的大孔径、较佳的催化吸附性能、良好的电磁性质及易于剪裁而引起人们极大的兴趣[1～9].人们已相继合成了介孔氧化硅薄膜[3,10]、球[12]、空心球[4,13]和纤维[12～15]等,并设法控制中孔材料晶体外貌[3～9,15～21].最近,我们报道了利用多相组装和无机晶体(如NaCl,LiCl)作大孔结构导向剂的方法[16],合成了人造"珊瑚"状介-大孔氧化硅膜[13].Lin等[17]用共表面活性剂法在丁醇存在下合成了多组有序结构的介孔氧化硅空心球; Shio等[21]在完全溶解的硅酸钠和阳离子表面活性剂溶液中,合成了细棒状介孔氧化硅粉末.本文报道一种控制介孔材料颗粒外貌和形状的新方法,即共溶剂法,并以此法合成了高有序度、大孔径、 "面包圈"状介孔氧化硅SBA-15.这种新材料有望在微加工、催化、生物分离、电子器件的矿化、色谱载体等方面得到应用[1～9].     

Grafting of alumina on SBA-15: effect of surface roughness

Alumina-grafted materials were prepared by postsynthesis alumination of mesoporous SBA-15 silica in an aqueous solution of aluminum chlorhydrol. Prepared samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and (27)Al magic-angle-spinning NMR. The successive grafting of alumina on SBA-15 leads to a gradual filling of the corona surrounding the mesopores. As a consequence smoothing of the mesopore surface takes place. The in-depth analysis of nitrogen adsorption data proves that the alpha s method affords real values of the structure parameters, while the Kruk, Jaroniec, and Sayari (KJS) procedure based on the BJH algorithm provides only effective data corresponding to cylindrical mesopores of smooth geometrical surface. The quantification of the roughness of the SBA-15 mesopore surface based on the comparison of data obtained from the alpha s plot and KJS method was carried out.     

Preparation and Characterization of Divanadium Pentoxide Nanowires inside SBA-15 Channels

One-dimensional V2O5 nanowires have been synthesized inside the channels of mesoporous silica SBA-15 through chemical approach, which involves aminosilylation of silanol groups on the silica surface, anchoring of isopoly acid, H6V10O28, by neutralization of basic amine groups, and thermal decomposition. The formation and physicochemical properties of the nanowires were monitored and studied by TG-DTA, variable temperature in situ XRD, TEM, N2 sorption measurements and UV-Vis DRS. The results indicate that V2O5 nanowires formed within SBA-15 channels belong to orthorhombic polycrystal domains. The oxygen-to-metal charge transfer band of V2O5 nanowires shows a blue shift in comparison with bulk V2O5, which clearly exhibits the quantum size effect of nanowires.     

长度可控杆状SBA-15的合成简

以三嵌段共聚物P123为结构导向剂,天然高聚物壳聚糖为添加剂,合成出分散性较好的杆状结构SBA-15. 通过调节体系中壳聚糖的含量,可以实现对产物形貌的控制,即从颗粒到短杆状,最后到长杆状. 壳聚糖的加入不仅使SBA-15的介孔结构更加长程有序,同时也提高了其比表面积和孔容,其最高值分别达到1157 m2/g和1.53 cm3/g.     

Optical properties of transparent copper nanorod and nanowire arrays embedded in anodic alumina oxide

Transparent copper nanorod/nanowire arrays and anodic alumina oxide composite films have been prepared by alternating current electrodeposition, and their linear optical properties have been systematically characterized by absorption spectra. In the experimental spectra, there exist transverse and longitudinal resonance peaks, which are caused by the surface-plasmon resonance along the diameter and the length of the copper nanorods, respectively. The transverse resonance peak is affected by the diameter and aspect ratio of the nanorod. The longitudinal resonance peak appears at longer wavelength when a polarized light illuminates the film with an angle of incidence of about 70 degrees , where the angle is defined with respect to the surface normal. Moreover, the longitudinal resonance mode is sensitive to the polarization direction when compared with the transverse resonance mode.     

Formation of arrays of gallium nitride nanorods within mesoporous silica SBA-15

We report the first formation of arrays of GaN nanorods inside the nanoscale channels of mesoporous silica SBA-15. GaCl3 dissolved in toluene was incorporated into the methyl group-functionalized SBA-15 powder. The pore surfaces functionalized with methyl groups should facilitate the impregnation with GaCl3. Formation of GaN nanorod arrays within SBA-15 was carried out by heating the powder to 700 degrees C for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere, followed by ammonolysis at 900 degrees C for 5 h. epsilon-Ga2O3, an unusual phase for Ga2O3, formed after the first thermal process and was converted into wurtzite GaN during ammonolysis. The final products have been characterized by FT-IR spectra, powder XRD patterns, TEM images and SAED patterns, EDS analysis, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm measurements to confirm the presence of GaN nanostructures. The nanorods are 6-7.5 nm in diameter, and can be a few hundreds of a nanometer in length to exhibit nanowire structure. Free-standing GaN nanorod arrays were revealed upon removal of the silica framework with HF solution. Optical characterization of the isolated GaN nanorod arrays shows a strong and sharp near band-edge emission at 375 nm, and two phonon-assisted donor-acceptor peaks at 395 and 415 nm. A broad but weak emission in the region of 335-360 nm due to the quantum confinement effect of short nanorods was observed.     

长度可控杆状SBA-15的合成

以三嵌段共聚物P123为结构导向剂, 天然高聚物壳聚糖为添加剂, 合成出分散性较好的杆状结构SBA-15. 通过调节体系中壳聚糖的含量, 可以实现对产物形貌的控制, 即从颗粒到短杆状, 最后到长杆状. 壳聚糖的加入不仅使SBA-15的介孔结构更加长程有序, 同时也提高了其比表面积和孔容, 其最高值分别达到1157 m²/g和1.53 cm³/g.     

Preparation of three-dimensional chromium oxide porous single crystals templated by SBA-15

Three-dimensional porous chromium oxide single crystals have been prepared by aminosilylation of the surface silanols of the template, SBA-15, anchoring of dichromic acid to the grafted amine groups, thermal decomposition of inorganic and organic compounds, and removal of the silica framework with HF.     

Perforated organometallic nanotubes prepared from a Rh N-heterocyclic carbene using a porous alumina membrane

Fabrication of perforated organometallic nanotubes using a di-rhodium bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) complex by a simple nanoporous template wetting technique is described along with characterization data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), proton NMR and Mass spectroscopy.     

Effects of Morphology and Structural Characteristics of Ordered SBA-15 Mesoporous Silica on Release of Ibuprofen

Three kinds of highly ordered SBA-15 mesoporous materials with different pore sizes and morphologies denoted as LPS-SBA-15 (stick-like with pore size 7.28 nm), CPS-SBA-15 (stick-like with pore size 5.96 nm) and T-SBA-15 (tablet-like with pore size 4.64 nm) have been prepared, characterized and employed as carrier materials. The release behaviors of the ibuprofen in a simulated body fluid from these mesoporous silica materials were studied. The influences of pore size and exterior morphologies of mesoporous silica on the release behaviors of ibuprofen have been investigated. It has been found that the release becomes fast with increasing of pore size and slow with extending of transport pathway, and that the release rate of ibuprofen from the three kinds of SBA-15 is LPS-SBA-15 > T-SBA-15 > CPS-SBA-15. The results show that the inner structure as well as the exterior morphologies of SBA-15 mesoporous silica can seriously affect the release behaviors of ibuprofen.     

In situ adsorption method for synthesis of binary semiconductor CdS nanocrystals inside mesoporous SBA-15

Binary semiconductor CdS nanocrystals have been prepared inside the channels of mesoporous SBA-15 using an in situ adsorption method combining a surface modification scheme and a wet impregnation technique by functionalizing the SBA-15 surface with thiol groups, adsorbing cadmium cations, and calcining in N₂ atmosphere at 300 °C. The combined results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) firstly reveal that CdS nanocrystals with uniform size of about 6 nm are formed and mono-dispersed inside the channels of mesoporous SBA-15. And a blue shift is observed in UV–Vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, indicating the quantum size effect of nanocrystalline CdS.     

Permeation flux of organic molecules through silica-surfactant nanochannels in a porous alumina membrane.

The permeation fluxes of phenol, benzene sulfonate (BS) and benzene disulfonate (BDS) through a porous anodic alumina membrane with the perpendicularly oriented silica-surfactant nanochannel assembly membrane (NAM) were measured in water-ethanol mixture media. The permeation flux depended on solute charges and on solvent composition. As the ethanol ratio increased, the fluxes of BS and BDS increased and the flux of phenol decreased. The results of extraction/elution experiments also depended on the solute charges and the solvent composition. Chromatographic experiments in n-hexane showed that dipole and hydrophobic interactions affect the retention of solutes. Permeation of the solute across the NAM in water-ethanol mixture is likely to be determined by various factors such as dipole interaction, hydrophobic interaction, solvation, and anion-exchange efficiencies.     

Characterisation of porous alumina membrane by adsorption in conjunction with SANS

An alumina membrane was studied by water adsorption in conjunction with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The SANS data were fitted according to a polydisperse homogeneous permeable sphere model. Pore size distributions and radial distribution functions were calculated for pores as small as 19 Å too. The lower limit of the pore size distribution is in agreement with the predictions of Kelvin equation.     

高度有序介孔氧化硅材料SBA-15：高浓度氨基官能化及氨基及氨基团的可利用性

采用简单的方法合成高浓度氨基修饰的高度有序氧化硅材料并深入研究氨基官能化材料的孔结构以及氨基的存在状态和可利用性。结果表明,氨基基团共价连接到SBA-15的孔表面,即使初始合成体系中的APTES（氨丙基三乙氧基硅烷）浓度高达30mol%时材料依然保持高度的有序性。合成体系中APTES浓度为20％的样品还保持良好的介孔结构,比表面积为680 m²·g^-1,孔容为0.89 cm³·g^-1,此介孔结构中的氨基官能团对镍离子表现出很强的亲和力,Ni²⁺的吸附量高达1.88 mmol·g^-1,相比之下未官能化的SBA-15对Ni²⁺没有吸附作用。当初始合成体系中APTES的浓度进一步增大到30％时,修饰到介孔氧化硅材料的氨基含量也随之增大,但由于材料的孔隙度急剧降低,这些氨基的可利用性也降低。     

Extraction mechanisms of charged organic dye molecules into silica-surfactant nanochannels in a porous alumina membrane

Extraction mechanisms of charged organic dye molecules are examined for an assembly of silica-surfactant nanochannels with a channel diameter of 3.4 nm, which is formed inside the pores of an anodic alumina membrane by a surfactant-template method. Experimental results confirm that the extraction mechanism depends on the sign of a charge of the dye molecules. The extraction of the cationic rhodamine 6G is predominantly caused by an ion-pair extraction process, whereas an anion-exchange process is mainly responsible for the extraction of the anionic sulforhodamine B. These extraction mechanisms are discussed by considering the microstructures of the silica-surfactant nanochannels.     

Mechanism for the formation of tin oxide nanoparticles and nanowires inside the mesopores of SBA-15

The formation of polycrystalline tin oxide nanoparticles (NP) and nanowires was investigated using nanocasting approach included solid-liquid strategy for insertion of SnCl₂ precursor and SBA-15 silica as a hard template. HR-TEM and XRD revealed that during the thermal treatment in air 5 nm tin oxide NP with well defined Cassiterite structure were formed inside the SBA-15 matrix mesopores at 250 °C. After air calcination at 700 °C the NP assembled inside the SBA-15 mesopores as polycrystalline nanorods with different orientation of atomic layers in jointed nanocrystals. It was found that the structure silanols of silica matrix play a vital role in creating the tin oxide NP at low temperature. The pure tin chloride heated in air at 250 °C did not react with oxygen to yield tin oxide. Tin oxide NP were also formed during the thermal treatment of the tin chloride loaded SBA-15 in helium atmosphere at 250 °C. Hence, it is well evident that silanols present in the silica matrix not only increase the wetting of tin chloride over the surface of SBA-15 favoring its penetration to the matrix pores, but also react with hydrated tin chloride according to the proposed scheme to give tin oxide inside the mesopores. It was confirmed by XRD, N₂-adsorption, TGA-DSC and FTIR spectra. This phenomenon was further corroborated by detecting the inhibition of SnO₂ NP formation at 250 °C after inserting the tin precursor to SBA-15 with reduced silanols concentration partially grafted with tin chloride.     

Preparation of water and alkali durable porous glass membrane coated on porous alumina tubing by sol-gel method

Composite porous glass membranes were prepared by the sol-gel method. A thin porous glass layer, about 2 μm thick, was coated on the surface of the porous ceramic tubing (Al₂O₃:99.9 wt.%, pore diameter: 200 nm). The composition of the porous glass layer of the composite membrane was SiO₂-ZrO₂. Considering from the fact that the desalination ratio of the feed aqueous NaCl solution (NaCl 0.5 wt.%) was about 90% by use of these membranes, they were defect-free. The best composition of the porous glass layer was 70 SiO₂-30 ZrO₂ from the standpoint of preparing membranes. These membranes had a large water and alkali durability. These membranes can be expected to apply to recovering dyes and paints from organic solvents and to be used as a gas separation membrane.     

Electrochemical reconstruction of non-noble metal-based heterostructure nanorod arrays electrodes for highly stable anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis

Direct seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production has been regarded as a viable route to utilize surplus renewable energy and address the climate crisis.However,the harsh electrochemical environment of seawater,particularly the presence of aggressive Cl^-,has been proven to be prone to parasitic chloride ion oxidation and corrosion reactions,thus restricting seawater electrolyzer lifetime.Herein,hierarchical structure(Ni,Fe)O(OH)@NiCoS nanorod arrays(NAs) catalysts with heterointerf...