Mixed micelles of a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer (P123) and a nonionic surfactant (C12EO6) in water. a dynamic and static light scattering study

The present article reports on static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS) studies of aqueous solutions of the nonionic surfactant C12EO6 and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer EO20PO68EO20 (P123) at temperatures between 25 and 45 degrees C. In water, P123 self-assembles into spherical micelles with a hydrodynamic radius of 10 nm, and at 40 degrees C, these micelles consist of 131 unimers. Addition of C12EO6 leads to an association of the surfactant molecules to the P123 micelles and mixed micelles are formed. The size and structure of the mixed micelles as well as interparticle interactions were studied by varying the surfactant-to-copolymer (C12EO6/P123) molar ratio. The novelty of this study consists of a composition-induced structural change of the mixed micelles at constant temperature. They gradually change from being spherical to polymer-like with increasing C12EO6 content. At low C12EO6/P123 molar ratios (below 12), the SLS measurements showed that the molar mass of the mixed micelles decreases with an increasing amount of C12EO6 in the micelles for all investigated temperatures. In this regime, the mixed micelles are spherical and the DLS measurements revealed a decrease in the hydrodynamic radius of the mixed micelles. An exception was found for C12EO6/P123 molar ratios between 2 and 3, where the mixed micelles become rodlike at 40 degrees C. This was the subject of a previous study and has hence not been investigated here. At high molar ratios (48 and above), the polymer-like micelles present a concentration-induced growth, similar to that observed in the pure C12EO6/water system.     

Single-crystalline platinum nanosheets from nonionic surfactant 2-D self-assemblies at solid/aqueous solution interfaces

Single-crystalline platinum nanosheets have been prepared via a new methodology based on the chemical reduction of a platinum salt (H2PtCl6) with hydrazine at a graphite/solution interface, using polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate (Tween 60) based self-assembly (hemicylindrical micelle) templates. The platinum nanosheets with a uniform thickness of as thin as 3.5 +/- 1 nm are surface-smooth and continuous over relatively large length scales of micrometer sizes. In striking contrast to the Tween 60 based system, no Pt nanosheets are obtained with nonaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12EO9) and polyoxyethylene (23) dodecyl ether (C12EO23). No Pt nanosheets are also obtainable with a laterally homogeneous layer of Tween 60 formed at the silica/solution interface. These results indicate that surfactant Tween 60 molecules with a triple polyoxyethylene structure, as well as their hemicylindrical micelle templates, play an essential role for the formation of the Pt nanosheets. It is also suggested that the interfacially directed growth of Pt metals within the aqueous shells of the Tween 60 hemicylindrical micelles induces the thin Pt crystals as thick as the aqueous shells. The present approach could be extended to prepare a wide range of novel nanostructures of noble metals, using various micelle-like self-assemblies at interfaces.     

Direct formation of thermally stabilized amorphous mesoporous Fe2O3/SiO2 nanocomposites by hydrolysis of aqueous iron III nitrate in sols of spherical silica particles

Nanocomposite materials containing 10% and 20% iron oxide/silica, Fe2O3/SiO2 (w/w), were prepared by direct hydrolysis of aqueous iron III nitrate solution in sols of freshly prepared spherical silica particles (St?ber particles) present in their mother liquors. This was followed by aging, drying, calcination up to 600 degrees C through two different ramp rates, and then isothermal calcinations at 600 degrees C for 3 h. The calcined and the uncalcined (dried at 120 degrees C) composites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption/desorption techniques, and scanning electron microscopy as required. XRD patterns of the calcined composites showed no line broadening at any d-spacing positions of iron oxide phases, thereby reflecting the amorphous nature of Fe2O3 in the composite. The calcined composites showed nitrogen adsorption isotherms characterizing type IV isotherms with high surface area. Moreover, surface area increased with the increasing of the iron oxide ratio and lowering of the calcination ramp rate. Results indicated that iron oxide particles were dispersed on the exterior of silica particles as isolated and/or aggregated nanoparticles. The formation of the title composite was discussed in terms of the hydrolysis and condensation mechanisms of the inorganic FeIII precursor in the silica sols. Thereby, fast nucleation and limited growth of hydrous iron oxide led to the formation of nanoparticles that spread interactively on the hydroxylated surface of spherical silica particles. Therefore, a nanostructured composite of amorphous nanoparticles of iron oxide (as a shell) spreading on the surface of silica particles (as a core) was formed. This morphology limited the aggregation of Fe2O3 nanoparticles, prevented silica particle coalescence at high temperatures, and enhanced thermal stability.     

Phase behavior of a mixture of poly(isoprene)-poly(oxyethylene) diblock copolymer and poly(oxyethylene) surfactant in water

The phase behavior of a mixture of poly(isoprene)-poly(oxyethylene) diblock copolymer (PI-PEO or C250EO70) and poly(oxyethylene) surfactant (C12EO3, C12EO5, C12EO6, C12EO7, and C12EO9) in water was investigated by phase study, small-angle X-ray scattering, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The copolymer is not soluble in surfactant micellar cubic (I1), hexagonal (H1), and lamellar (Lalpha) liquid crystals, whereas an isotropic copolymer fluid phase coexists with these liquid crystals. Although the PI-PEO is relatively lipophilic, it increases the cloud temperatures of C12EO3-9 aqueous solutions at a relatively high PI-PEO content in the mixture. Most probably, in the copolymer-rich region, PI-PEO and C12EOn form a spherical composite micelle in which surfactant molecules are located at the interface and the PI chains form an oil pool inside. In the C12EO5/ and C12EO6/PI-PEO systems, one kind of micelles is produced in the wide range of mixing fraction, although macroscopic phase separation was observed within a few days after the sample preparation. On the other hand, small surfactant micelles coexist with copolymer giant micelles in C12EO7/ and C12EO9/PI-PEO aqueous solutions in the surfactant-rich region. The micellar shape and size are calculated using simple geometrical relations and compared with DLS data. Consequently, a large PI-PEO molecule is not soluble in surfactant bilayers (Lalpha phase), infinitely long rod micelles (H1 phase), and spherical micelles (I1 phase or hydrophilic spherical micelles) as a result of the packing constraint of the large PI chain. However, the copolymer is soluble in surfactant rod micelles (C12EO5 and C12EO6) because a rod-sphere transition of the surfactant micelles takes place and the long PI chains are incorporated inside the large spherical micelles.     

Synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with mesoporous anatase wall and high photocatalytic activity

Mesoporous titanium dioxide nanosized powder with high specific surface area and anatase wall was synthesized via hydrothermal process by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant-directing agent and pore-forming agent. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, FESEM, TEM, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The as-synthesized mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles have mean diameter of 17.6 nm with mean pore size of 2.1 nm. The specific surface area of the as-synthesized mesoporous nanosized TiO2 exceeded 430 m2/g and that of the samples after calcination at 600 degrees C still have 221.9 m2/g. The mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles show significant activities on the oxidation of Rhodamine B (RB). The large surface area, small crystalline size, and well-crystallized anatase mesostructure can explain the high photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles calcined at 400 degrees C.     

Vesicle formation with amphiphilic chitosan derivatives and a conventional cationic surfactant in mixed systems

In this study, molecular packing in lamellar liquid crystals in poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether(C(12)EO(n)) pure systems and the two surfactant mixtures of C(12)EO(8)/1-dodecanol(C(12)EO(0)), C(12)EO(8)/lipophilic sucrose laurate (L-595), hydrophilic sucrose laurate (L-1695)/C(12)EO(2) is investigated in terms of mean molecular area and partial molecular area (PMA). Lamellar liquid crystals formed in the C(12)EO(8)/C(12)EO(0) mixed system show higher melting temperatures than those in the C(12)EO(n) pure systems, even though the average number of EO units in the mixed surfactant system is the same as in the pure system. We compared the mean molecular area at the interface between hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties in the lamellar liquid crystals in each system. In the mixed system, the molecules are packed more tightly than in the pure system. Among the C(12)EO(n) and sucrose laurate mixtures, the L-1695/C(12)EO(2) mixed system showed a smaller mean molecular area per lipophilic chain than the C(12)EO(8)/L-595 mixed system. We investigated the effect of mixing two surfactants with different head group geometry on molecular packing by comparing the PMA of each surfactant.     

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite: micelle templated synthesis and characterization

Nanocrystalline calcium phosphate based inorganic, hydroxyapatite (HAp), was synthesized using the dodecyl phosphate micelle system. The surfactant concentration during synthesis played an important role on the final properties of these HAp nanoparticles. A surfactant concentration close to the critical micelle concentration produced the nanoparticles with the highest surface area, with porous less agglomerated morphology. Compacts made of these nanopowders showed between 97 and 98% theoretical density of phase-pure HAp and promoted cell-material interaction when cytotoxicity tests were performed.     

Synthesis, structure, texture, and CO sensing behavior of nanocrystalline tin oxide doped with scandia

Weakly agglomerated nanocrystalline scandia doped tin oxide powders with high surface area (170-220 m(2)/g) and uniform size (3-4 nm) were synthesized for the first time by a two-step hydrothermal process in the presence of urea, followed by the calcination between 500 and 1200 degrees C. The structure and texture of the binary oxide system were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-specific surface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A metastable scandium tin oxide solid solution in tetragonal structure was formed for the scandia content lower than 6 mol % as the samples were calcined at 800 degrees C, and the excess Sc atoms were dispersed at the surface of the crystallites above this limit. The solid solution was metastable, so scandium migrated toward the surface region of the crystallites and produced a second phase of Sc(4)Sn(3)O(12) during calcining at high temperatures over 1000-1200 degrees C. In the case of the samples with higher dopant concentration (>15 mol %), the calcination at the temperature between 500 and 800 degrees C caused the precipitation of Sc(2)O(3), and the calcination over 1000-1200 degrees C led to the formation of more Sc(4)Sn(3)O(12). Textural analysis showed that doping an appropriate amount of Sc(2)O(3) into nanosized SnO(2) could effectively inhibit the grain growth and stabilize the surface area against high-temperature calcinations below 1000 degrees C. CO gas-sensing property measurements revealed that the dispersion of Sc at the surfaces of the SnO(2) nanocrystallites could improve the CO sensitivity significantly, and the pellet sample with scandia content of 10 mol % sintered at 800 degrees C showed the best CO gas-sensing property in the operation temperature range of 300-400 degrees C. On the basis of the structural and textural analysis, the correlation between the structure/texture and the sensitivity to CO for the as-calcined (SnO(2))(1-x)(Sc(2)O(3))(x) nanocrystallites has been established and explained.     

Effect of added poly(oxyethylene)dodecyl ether on the phase and rheological behavior of wormlike micelles in aqueous SDS solutions

Upon the addition of a short EO chain nonionic surfactant, poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether (C12EOn), to dilute micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) above a particular concentration, a sharp increase in viscosity occurs and a highly viscoelastic micellar solution is formed. The oscillatory-shear rheological behavior of the viscoselastic solutions can be described by the Maxwell model at low shear frequency and combined Maxwell-Rouse model at high shear frequency. This property is typical of wormlike micelles entangled to form a transient network. It is found that when C12EO4 in the mixed system is replaced by C12EO3 the micellar growth occurs more effectively. However, with the further decrease in EO chain length, phase separation occurs before a viscoelastic solution is formed. As a result, the maximum zero-shear viscosity is observed at an appropriate mixing fraction of surfactant in the SDS-C12EO3 system. We also investigated the micellar growth in the mixed surfactant systems by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). It was found from the SAXS data that the one-dimensional growth of micelles was obtained in all the SDS-C12EOn (n=0-4) aqueous solutions. In a short EO chain C12EOn system, the micelles grow faster at a low mixing fraction of nonionic surfactant.     

A calorimetry and light scattering study of the formation and shape transition of mixed micelles of EO20PO68EO20 triblock copolymer (P123) and nonionic surfactant (C12EO6)

The interaction between the nonionic surfactant C12EO6 and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer EO20PO68EO20 (P123) has been investigated by means of isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS). P123 self-assembles in water into spherical micelles at ambient temperatures. At raised temperatures, the DSC data revealed a sphere-to-rod transition of the P123 micelles around 60 degrees C. C12EO6 interacts strongly with P123 micelles in aqueous solution to give mixed micelles with a critical micelle concentration (cmc) well below the cmc for pure C12EO6. The presence of C12EO6 also lowers the critical micelle temperature of P123 so aggregation starts at significantly lower temperatures. A new phenomenon was observed in the P123-C12EO6 system, namely, a well-defined sphere-to-rod transition of the mixed micelles. A visual phase study of mixtures containing 1.00 wt % P123 showed that in a narrow concentration range of C12EO6 both the sphere-to-rod transition and the liquid-liquid phase separation temperature are strongly depressed compared to the pure P123-water system. The hydrodynamic radius of spherical mixed micelles at a C12EO6/P123 molar ratio of 2.2 was estimated from DLS to be 9.1 nm, whereas it is 24.1 nm for the rodlike micelles. Furthermore, the hydrodynamic length of the rods at a molar ratio of 2.2 is in the range of 100 nm. The retarded kinetics of the shape transition was detected in titration calorimetric experiments at 40 degrees C and further studied by using time-resolved DLS and SLS. The rate of growth, which was slow (>2000 s), was found to increase with the total concentration.     

Sonochemical intercalation of preformed gold nanoparticles into multilayered clays

Multilayered Na (+)-montmorillonite clays intercalated with Au nanoparticles were synthesized by direct ultrasonic impregnation of preformed gold colloid into the clay matrix. The sonicated composite product then consists of Au nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in the clay. The resulting clay/nano-Au composite was calcined at 800 degrees C and characterized by BET surface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared measurements. Nearly spherical-shaped gold nanoparticles, with a size of 6 +/- 0.5 nm, are located in the pores of clay calcined at 800 degrees C. Their nanocomposites are thermally stable as was shown by thermogravimetric analysis. No aggregation of the gold nanoparticles was observed during calcination. The proposed ultrasonic intercalation approach is an universal one and can be employed for synthesis of catalytically active metal-clay nanocomposites stable at high temperatures with high dispersability of the metal nanoparticles in the clay matrix.     

Comparing Decyl-beta-maltoside and Octaethyleneglycol Mono n-Decyl Ether in Mixed Micelles with Dodecyl Benzenesulfonate

In this study the mixed micelle behavior of an alkyl polyglycoside is compared to a surfactant of polyoxyethylene type, by means of surface tension measurements. The two nonionic surfactants are compared in mixed micelle systems together with an anionic surfactant. The surfactant mixtures are: decyl-beta-maltoside (C(10)M) with dodecyl benzenesulfonate (C(12)BS) and octaethyleneglycol mono n-decyl ether (C(10)EO(8)) with C(12)BS. The mixture of C(10)M and C(10)EO(8) is also studied. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the concentration at which the surface tension reduction is 20 mNm(-1) (C(20)) are determined at different mixing ratios of the surfactant mixtures. By applying the nonideal mixed micelle theory, interaction parameters at CMC (beta(CMC)) and C(20) (beta(C20)) are calculated for the surfactant mixtures. The results show that the C(10)M-C(12)BS mixture has a beta(CMC) parameter of -2.1, whereas the beta(CMC) parameter for the C(10)EO(8)-C(12)BS mixture is -3.3, indicating a weaker net attractive interaction between C(10)M and C(12)BS than between C(10)EO(8) and C(12)BS. This is attributed to a small negative and positive charge of the respective nonionic surfactants. This is supported by a slightly negative beta(CMC) parameter obtained for the surfactant mixture C(10)M-C(10)EO(8), indicating a small net attractive interaction between the two nonionic surfactants. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Effect of temperature on the rheology of wormlike micelles in a mixed surfactant system

The formation and rheological behavior of a viscoelastic wormlike micellar solution in an aqueous solution of a mixed surfactant system of alkyl ethoxylate sulfate (AES), C(12)H(25)(OCH(2)CH(2))(3)OSO(-)(3)Na(+), and polyoxyethylene dodecyl ether, C(12)EO(3), and the unusual effect of temperature on the rheological behavior have been studied. Upon successive addition of C(12)EO(3) to the dilute micellar solution of AES, viscosity increases swiftly and reaches its peak where a viscoelastic solution with nearly Maxwellian behavior is formed. With the further addition of C(12)EO(3), viscosity decreases sharply, which is attributed to the formation of micellar joints. With increasing temperature, the extent of micellar growth increases and the viscosity maximum is achieved at a lower mixing fraction of C(12)EO(3), but the maximum viscosity attained by the system decreases. The evolution of relaxation time and network density of the viscoelastic network also suggests that with increasing temperature, enhanced micellar growth takes place, but an additional, faster relaxation mechanism becomes increasingly favorable at high concentrations of C(12)EO(3). These results can be explained in terms of the increase in free energy of hemispherical end-caps (end-cap energy) of the micelles with increasing temperature.     

Self-assembled structures of hydroxyapatite in the biomimetic coating on a bioinert ceramic substrate

The tribological properties of alumina ceramic are excellent due in part to a high wettability because of the hydrophilic surface and fluid film lubrication that minimizes the adhesive wear. Such surfaces are further modified with bioactive glass/ceramic coating to promote direct bone apposition in orthopedic applications. The present communication reports the biomimetic coating of calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) on dense (2-3% porosity) alumina (alpha-Al(2)O(3)) substrate (1cmx1cmx0.5cm), at 37 degrees C. After a total period of 6 days immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), at 37 degrees C, linear self-assembled porous (pore size: approximately 0.2mum) structures (length: approximately 375.39mum and width: 5-6mum) of HAp were obtained. The phenomenon has been demonstrated by self-assembly and diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) principles. Structural and compositional characterization of the coating was carried out using SEM with EDX facility, XRD and FT-IR data.     

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous ceria/alumina nanocomposite materials via mixing of the corresponding ceria and alumina gel precursors

Mesoporous ceria/alumina, CeO(2)/Al(2)O(3), composites containing 10, 20 and 30% (w/w) ceria were prepared by a novel gel mixing method. In the method, ceria gel (formed via hydrolysis of ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate by aqueous ammonium carbonate solution) and alumina gel (formed via controlled hydrolysis of aluminum tri-isopropoxide) were mixed together. The mixed gel was subjected to subsequent drying and calcination for 3 h at 400, 600, 800 and 1000 degrees C. The uncalcined (dried at 110 degrees C) and the calcined composites were investigated by different techniques including TGA, DSC, FTIR, XRD, SEM and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. Results indicated that composites calcined for 3 h at 800 degrees C mainly kept amorphous alumina structure and gamma-alumina formed only upon calcinations at 1000 degrees C. On the other hand, CeO(2) was found to crystallize in the common ceria, cerinite, phase and it kept this structure over the entire calcination range (400-1000 degrees C). Therefore, high surface areas, stable surface textures, and non-aggregated nano-sized ceria dispersions were obtained. A systematic texture change based on ceria ratio was observed, however in all cases mesoporous composite materials exposing thermally stable texture and structure were obtained. The presented method produces composite ceria/alumina materials that suit different applications in the field of catalysis and membranes technology, and throw some light on physicochemical factors that determine textural morphology and thermal stability of such important composite.     

羧甲基纤维素-十二烷基醇聚氧乙烯醚丙烯酸酯共聚物表面活性剂在水溶液中的胶束形态

采用动态激光光散射及环境扫描电镜研究了羧甲基纤维素型高分子表面活性剂在水溶液中的胶束形态 .结果表明 ,共聚物在水溶液中的形态完全不同于羧甲基纤维素分子 ,亲水疏水链段的引入 ,使共聚物分子聚集形成了以疏水链段为核心的棍状胶束结构 .高分子表面活性剂水溶液体系的归一化一级相关函数不符合单指数衰减 ,表明胶束形态的多分散性 .在 0 .0 0 5%～ 1 %浓度范围内 ,胶束粒子大小均分布在两个区域 ,随共聚物浓度增大 ,低粒径区保持在 3 0～ 1 0 0nm范围 ,为单分子区 ;而高粒径区随浓度增大移向更高值 ,表明多分子胶束不断长大 .     

Binding of sodium dodecyl sulfate and hexaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether to the block copolymer L64: electromotive force, microcalorimetry, surface tension, and small angle neutron scattering investigations of mixed micelles and polymer/micellar surfactant complexes

The interactions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with the triblock copolymer L64 (EO13-PO30-EO13) and hexaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C12EO6) were studied using electromotive force, isothermal titration microcalorimetry, differential scanning microcalorimetry, and surface tension measurements. In certain regions of binding, mixed micelles are formed, and here we could evaluate an interaction parameter using regular solution theory. The mixed micelles of L64 with both SDS and C12EO6 exhibit synergy. When L64 is present in its nonassociated state, it forms polymer/micellar SDS complexes at SDS concentrations above the critical aggregation concentration (cac). The cac is well below the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of pure SDS, and a model suggesting how bound micelles are formed at the cac in the presence of a polymer is described. The interaction of nonassociated L64 with C12EO6 is a very rare example of strong binding between a nonionic surfactant and a nonionic polymer, and C12EO6/L64 mixed micelles are formed. We also carried out small angle neutron scattering measurement to determine the structure of the monomeric polymer/micellar SDS complex, as well as the mixed L64/C12EO6 aggregates. In these experiments, contrast matching was achieved by using the h and d forms of SDS, as well as C12EO6. During the early stages of the formation of polymer-bound SDS micelles, SDS aggregates with aggregation numbers of approximately 20 were found and such complexes contain 4-6 bound L64 monomers. The L64/C12EO6 data confirmed the existence of mixed micelles, and structural information involving the composition of the mixed micelle and the aggregation numbers were evaluated.     

Precipitation of different calcite crystal morphologies in the presence of sodium stearate

The influence of sodium stearate (NaSt) on the precipitation of calcium carbonate during the semicontinuous process of slaked lime carbonation was studied in the systems in which process parameters, like concentration of total dissolved calcium, temperature, CO(2) flow rate and initial addition rate of slaked lime, were controlled. It was found that calcite was the only calcium carbonate polymorph that appeared under the investigated experimental conditions, while FT-IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis of samples confirmed the presence of stearate on the surface of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). Specific surface area of PCC increased with increasing stearate content: the highest value, s = 52.8 m(2) g(-1), was obtained at t = 20 degrees C, c(tot) = 17.0 mmol dm(-3) and the stearate content of m(NaSt)/m(CaO) = 0.03. It was also found that hydrophobic calcite crystals in the form of rhombohedral and scalenohedral morphology can be produced at m(NaSt)/m(CaO) > 0.01. The exception is the case of nanosized PCC production, when much higher concentration of NaSt is needed, m(NaSt)/m(CaO) = 0.22. Minimal amount of stearate necessary to build up the monolayer and corresponding cross sectional area of one stearate molecule were estimated for the obtained calcite morphologies.     

Fabrication of platy apatite nanocrystals loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles by two-step emulsion method and their photocatalytic activity

Nanometer-sized TiO(2) island structure on the platy hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (HAp) has been accomplished by two-step emulsion process. At the first step, platy HAp nanocrystals, of which size was in the range of 70-200 nm after heat-treatment at 1078 K for 1 h, were prepared using the W/O emulsion system. Before the second step, HAp nanocrystals were immersed in NaH(2)PO(4) solution for the formation of hydroxyl group on their surface. In the following, titanium tetraisopropoxide reacted with the hydroxyl group of HAp surface to form TiO(2) nanoparticles on the surface of HAp nanocrystals, which were dispersed in the micrometer-sized methanol droplets of polyethylene cetylether-cyclohexane mixture (methanol/oil emulsion). The resulting hydroxyapatite nanocrystals loaded with TiO(2) nanoparticles showed the high photocatalytic activity comparing to the commercial TiO(2) catalyst.     

Preparation and applications of a variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer/hydroxyapatite composites

A variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers were applied to the preparation of fluorinated oligomer/hydroxyapatite (HAp) composites (particle size: 38-356 nm), which exhibit a good dispersibility in water and traditional organic solvents. These fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer/HAp composites were easily prepared by the reactions of disodium hydrogen phosphate and calcium chloride in the presence of self-assembled molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers in aqueous solutions. In these fluorinated HAp composites thus obtained, fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid oligomers and 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomer/HAp nanocomposites afforded transparent colorless solutions toward water; however, fluoroalkyl end-capped N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomer and acryloylmorpholine oligomer were found to afford transparent colorless solutions with trace amounts of white-colored HAp precipitants under similar conditions. HAp could be encapsulated more effectively into fluorinated 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomeric aggregate cores to afford colloidal stable fluorinated oligomer/HAp composites, compared to that of fluorinated acrylic acid oligomers. These fluorinated oligomer/HAp composites were applied to the surface modification of glass and PVA to exhibit a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine. HAp formation was newly observed on the modified polyethylene terephthalate film surface treated with fluorinated 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomers and acrylic acid oligomer/HAp composites by soaking these films into the simulated body fluid.