Raman study of structural defects in SiO2 aerogels

The structure of the silica aerogels was studied by Raman spectroscopy. The spectra of the solid network resembles that of bulk silica with additional bands related to organic groups and a large amount of OH groups.The typical bands due to ring breathing also called defect bands D ₁ and D ₂ located at 490 and 610 cm^–1 are present. However, the evolution of the D ₂ band compared to that of OH band (980 cm^–1) seems apparently, in contradiction with the results previously reported in the literature. During heat treatments between 25 and 300°C the D ₂ and the OH bands increase simultaneously. Generally, in silica glass the defect band D ₂ grows at the expense of the OH groups.This result is explained by the oxidation of the organic compounds which, in this temperature range, leads to the formation of the both species (OH) and those related to siloxane rings. ²⁹Si MAS NMR results are in agreement with the Raman study.     

Preparation of SiO2-TiO2 Aerogels Using Supercritical Impregnation

The preparation of SiO₂-TiO₂ aerogels by supercritical impregnation of titanium alkoxides into silica alcogels was investigated. A mixture of CO₂ and 2-propanol with dissolved titanium tetraisopropoxide modified with acetylacetone was used as the impregnation medium. Prior to the experiments, the supercritical behaviour of the impregnation solution was investigated. The microstructure and properties of aerogels prepared by the supercritical impregnation method were almost identical to those generated by the liquid impregnation. However, the time for impregnation was substantially decreased and the homogeneity of the impregnated titanium distribution on the aerogel increased.     

3D石墨烯基气凝胶的制备及在超级电容器中的应用

超级电容器作为一种新型的能源存储装置,由于其较高的功率密度、优良的充放电特性、超长的循环寿命,使其在移动电源,新能源汽车等众多领域具有非常广泛的应用前景.3D石墨烯基气凝胶具有多孔结构、大的比表面积、高的导电率、优异的机械性能和电子传输能力,它一直被认为是超级电容器的理想电极材料.本文综述了3D石墨烯基气凝胶的制备方法...     

Thermal stability of anatase TiO2 aerogels

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) aerogels were prepared with sol–gel ambient pressure drying method by using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as precursor and tetraethoxysilane as modifier, calcinated at different temperature and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and small angle X‐ray scattering. The results showed that the TiO₂ aerogels remained amorphous under 500 °C, changed to anatase from 600 °C and further changed to rutile from 900 °C. Between 60 °C and 500 °C, the primary particles within the samples concentrated mainly upon small sizes, enlarged and diverged remarkably above 600 °C. The crystalline grains grew and agglomerated with the rise of the calcination temperature. The TiO₂ aerogels at a temperature higher than 800 °C have better stability than anatase because of the formation of partial Ti―O―Si bonds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

块状TiO2/SiO2气凝胶的非超临界干燥法制备及其表征

分别通过TiO2和SiO2的单独溶胶和TiO2/SiO2复合凝胶,并添加干燥控制化学添加剂甲酰胺,形成比较完善的凝胶网络结构,同时通过正硅酸乙酯的乙醇溶液浸泡,低表面张力溶剂替换和分级陈化以及干燥等步骤,实现了块状TiO2/SiO2复合气凝胶的非超临界干燥制备.所得TiO2/SiO2气凝胶为无色或乳白色轻质块状多孔固体,表观密度约0.4～0.9g/cm3,孔隙率约80%～95%.它由直径约10nm的TiO2和SiO2微粒相互分散复合而成,孔洞直径约几十纳米.其相态SiO2为无定形,TiO2为锐钛矿晶型.随着焙烧温度的升高,直到800℃不发生相变化.     

The sintering of silica aerogels studied by thermoporometry

The evolution of the texture of silica aerogels during sintering is studied by thermoporometry for both neutral and base catalysed materials.During the densification the macroporous volume drops and the analysis of the mesopore size distribution evolution shows that the collapse of the smallest mesopores is responsible for the macropore volume transformation. However, corrections of the measured volumes are necessary to characterize the most compliant materials.     

Length scale effect of PCL-PB-PCL on the light scattering and dynamics of network

The effect of length scale of triblock oil-soluble polymer (poly (ε-caprolactone)–poly butadiene-poly (ε-caprolactone)) (PCL-PB-PCL) on the properties of a water-in-oil (W/O) droplet microemulsion (R ~ 5.5 nm) has been studied as a function of the amount of added telechelic polymer. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements show that the size of the droplets is not affected by the polymer addition but it induces attractive interactions at low concentration and repulsive ones at high polymer content. Measurements of the diffusion coefficient by dynamic light scattering (DLS) show different relaxations in mixed systems. The fast diffusion coefficient increases with increase in polymer concentration. At higher polymer content, the network formation leads to an additional slow relaxation mode in DLS that can be related to the formation of clusters of microemulsion droplets interconnected by the polymer. The collective diffusion of slow relaxations decreases with increase of polymer concentrations.     

Synthesis and properties of mullite and cordierite aerogels

This work deals with the preparation of aluminosilicate aerogels, especially mullite (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂) and cordierite (2MgO·2Al₂O₃·5SiO₂) aerogels, from the cohydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and chelated aluminum-secbutylate; in the case of cordierite magnesium nitrate was added. The influence of various preparation conditions on the aerogel synthesis is described. Crystallization and sintering behavior of mullite aerogels supercritically dried in acetone or alcohol differs from that one of mullite aerogels dried in CO₂. During non-isothermal heat treatment the former show a drastically reduced shrinkage compared to the latter. This behavior can be explained by a phase separation during the high temperature autoclaving process. In cordierite aerogels the crystallization of tetragonal mullite at about 1000°C is observed, while the correspondent xerogels show the crystallization of - and - cordierite between 1000 and 1100°C. On the other hand sintering is promoted in cordierite aerogels, which is due to the content of MgO.     

S掺杂S-TiO_2/SiO_2可见光响应光催化剂的制备及性能

以四氯化钛为钛源,硫脲为硫源,采用液相水解-沉淀法制备了S掺杂的TiO2/SiO2(S-TiO2/SiO2)催化剂,并以苯酚为模型物,考察了催化剂在可见光区、紫外光区和太阳光下的光催化活性,以及催化剂的使用寿命和分离性能.采用X射线光电子能谱、傅里叶变换红外光谱、紫外-可见漫反射光谱、X射线衍射、透射电镜及N2吸附-脱附等技术对催化剂进行了表征.结果表明,S以+6价形式进入TiO2体相并置换晶格中的Ti4+,适量S掺杂的S-TiO2/SiO2在紫外光区、可见光区和太阳光下均表现出较高的光催化活性.SiO2与TiO2界面间有Ti-O-Si键形成,结合牢固.S掺杂在TiO2表面生成Ti-O-S键,形成新的能级结构,使光催化剂在450～550nm产生吸收,诱发TiO2可见光催化活性;同时提高了TiO2表面羟基数量.SiO2的加入可减小TiO2颗粒的平均尺寸,增大催化剂的比表面积,改善催化剂的分离性能,提高催化剂的使用寿命.     

魔芋葡甘聚糖／SiO2纳米复合物的制备与表征

用纳米SiO2为原料,以魔芋葡甘聚糖(KGM)为基体,采用共混法制得KGM/SiO2纳米复合物。通过傅立叶红外光谱(FTIR)、热重分析(TG)、透射电镜(TEM)等手段对该体系进行了表征。结果表明:由于纳米SiO2粒子的引入,KGM分子FTIR的某些特征峰的波数发生明显变化;纳米SiO2在复合物中的分散性较好;复合材料的热稳定性高于KGM薄膜;此外,复合材料的力学性能有所提高。     

Preparation and characterization of polymer composite multilayers on SiO2

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) have been consecutively adsorbed onto 1.5-microm charged silica (SiO2) particles. Time-dependent adsorption studies indicate that, due to the strong ionic charge of the dissociated polycation in water, adsorption is complete in less than 30 min. Indications of the maximum adsorption density, changes in surface charge, and stability of the layered particles are demonstrated through adsorption isotherms and electrophoretic mobility (EPM) measurements. Further stability of the PDADMAC layer is demonstrated through multiwashing with ultra pure deionized water. Preliminary desorption studies of the PSS layer also illustrate a stabilized two-layer system. Due to the nature of the electrostatic charges on the surface of the SiO2 core particles and both polyelectrolytes in aqueous media, the use of polyelectrolytes as layering elements serves as a model for the assembly of time-released drug delivery particle systems.     

Preparation and characterization of ZrCO/C composite aerogels

Zr-containing organic aerogels were synthesized by ligand substitution reaction of polyzirconoxone and 2, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, followed by polymerization with formaldehyde, and then supercritical drying using CO₂. After carbonization and carbothermal reduction under an argon atmosphere, ZrCO/C composite aerogels with controllable zirconium content (47.8–78.6 wt%) were obtained. The carbothermal reduction was substantially completed at 1,500 °C, and the obtained ZrCO/C composite aerogels exhibit low oxygen contents (9.4–6.7 wt%) and high surface areas (589–147 m²/g). Pore morphologies of the ZrCO/C composite aerogels were investigated in detail by nitrogen sorption measurements, scanning electron microscopy and its associated energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis measurements. The results show that the aerogels are composed of carbon framework and Zr-conglomerations, and the surface area of aerogel is severely affected by its zirconium content. The presence of reductive ZrC crystals can greatly enhance the oxidation resistance ability of amorphous carbon framework and prevent collapse.     

SiO2@Fe2O3核-壳结构催化剂的制备及表征

采用优化的Stöber法制备了平均粒径为230 nm的单分散球形SiO₂颗粒,并以此为内核,通过水解沉积法制备了不同壳层厚度的核-壳结构SiO₂@Fe₂O₃催化剂。采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、N₂物理吸附和X射线衍射分析(XRD)等手段对催化剂进行表征,探讨了不同制备条件对SiO₂@Fe₂O₃催化剂形貌的影响。结果表明,通过水解沉积法制备的SiO₂@Fe₂O₃催化剂具有明显的核-壳结构,并且保持了原始SiO₂核的球形形貌,Fe₂O₃纳米粒子通过-OH的氢键作用连接在SiO₂表面,形成了2~10 nm厚的Fe₂O₃均匀连续包覆层。     

Preparation of highly concentrated nanostructured dispersions of controlled size

This article presents the use of a shearing procedure for the preparation of stable nanostructured dispersions of lipid mesophases. This new application of the shearing technique is compared with the well-established ultrasonication method for the emulsification of these mesophases in water in terms of particle size, particle size distribution and available concentration range. With a laboratory-built shear device based on a Couette cell, it was possible to produce high quantities of internally self-assembled emulsion particles of controlled size at concentrated hydrophobic phase contents (_o) of up to 70 wt%. The concentration limit of 70 wt% could be reached however, the maximum attainable concentration depended on the internal structure type of the particles. The limit was thus easily attained for emulsified microemulsions (EME) as well as for the emulsified inverse hexagonal phase (H₂), whereas it was found to be lower for emulsified discontinuous (Fd3m) and bicontinuous (Pn3m) cubic phases. Moreover, by shearing, it was possible to keep the size of the particles relatively constant when increasing _o, whereas the particle size significantly increased with _o when ultrasonication was employed. By means of ultrasonication, the hydrodynamic radius of the particles could be tuned linearly between 85 to 180 nm as a function of _o up to a maximum of 20 to 30 wt%. Below the maximum concentration limit, particles displayed a well-controlled size.     

Light scattering of liposomal structure of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol with NaCl

1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol are used to prepare liposome. Dynamic light scattering was used to study the dynamics of different concentration of the DSPC on liposomal structure. The results show that with increase of DSPC concentration the diffusion coefficient decreases. The small angle X-Ray scattering (SAXS) experiments show that an increase of the DSPC of 0.5–5% changes the size of liposomal structure from 35 to 112 nm, this is analysed in leaves of hard sphere core shell model. Moreover, the addition of NaCl at 0.001 molar can decrease the size of liposomal structure.     

Self-assembled and Nanostructured Copolymer Aggregations of the Tertiary Amine Methacrylate Based Triblock Copolymers

The micellization behavior of novel tertiary amine methacrylate-based ABA type triblock copolymers formed by poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] [PDMA] middle block and poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] [PDEA] or poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] [PDPA] side blocks, PDPA_m-b-PDMA_n-b-PDPA_l, and PDEA_m-b-PDMA_n-b-PDEA_l was investigated. Both types of triblock copolymers were water-soluble and had potential for various applications due to their self-assembled and the bottom-up nanoscale micellar construction. The micellar aggregations of the triblock copolymers in aqueous solutions with varying comonomer ratios, molecular weights, temperatures, and pH values were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering. Compact micellar aggregations were obtained as 0.5 weight percent solutions at 20–21°C and pH 8.67 to 9.05, and characterized as polydispersed spherical core-shells. One group of triblock copolymer micelles had PDPA-cores with radii from 18 to 21 Å and PDMA-shell thicknesses of 89–105 Å, whereas the other group had PDEA-core spherical micelles with core radii of 60–62 Å and a PDMA-shell thicknesses of 64–66 Å.     

Rodlike Cellulose Microcrystals: Structure,Properties, and Applications

Summary: In this article we present some interesting properties of rodlike cellulose microcrystals (so‐called “whiskers”). These microcrystals can be obtained from different cellulose sources such as wood, cotton, or animal origin. When submitted to acid hydrolysis, the cellulose fibers yield stable aqueous suspensions because of the presence of negative charges on the surface of the microcrystallites during the hydrolysis process. The obtained microcrystals are rod‐shaped particles, the dimensions of which depend on the cellulose origin. For instance, the cotton whiskers have typical dimensions varying from 100 to 300 nm in length, L, and 8 to 10 nm in diameter, d, while those of the tunicate whiskers range from 100 nm to few micrometers in length and 10 to 20 nm in diameter. At very low concentrations, these whiskers are randomly suspended in water and form an isotropic phase. When the concentration reaches a critical value, the whiskers spontaneously display ordered phases showing interesting liquid crystal properties (nematic and chiral nematic). The chiral nematic orders can be retained after evaporation of the solvent (generally water), leaving iridescent films. The reflected color can be controlled by changing either the ionic strength or by applying an electric field. These colloidal particles have been investigated using several techniques including small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS), small angle X‐ray scattering, rheology, and more recently dynamic and static light scattering techniques (DLS and SLS) to highlight their static and dynamic behavior. Because of their geometry, important axis ratio (L/d), and high crystallinity, these rods have been also extensively used to process nanocomposites based on polymer matrices, to reinforce their mechanical properties. All these properties are discussed in this contribution.

Rodlike nanocrystals in aqueous suspension (left, Tunicate, 1 wt.‐%) and film (right), observed between cross‐polarizers.     

Multi-fractal imaging and structural investigation of silica hydrogels and aerogels

In this work, we report on the preparation of TEOS gels by means of the sol–gel method employing different TEOS/ethanol/water ratios at room temperature. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements provide the first-generation structural parameters, which indicate that particle size and fractal dimension are synthesis and depth dependent. These results are supported by the second- and third-generation aggregates observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fiber-like first-generation clusters aggregate as spherical second-generation particles which, in turn, in the third generation rearrange into complex structures.     

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.