Fabrication and characterization of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite nanoparticles and polyurethane/(TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) nanocomposite films

TiO₂–SiO₂ composite nanoparticles were prepared by a sol–gel process. To obtain the assembly of TiO₂–SiO₂ composite nanoparticles, different molar ratios of Ti/Si were investigated. Polyurethane (PU)/(TiO₂–SiO₂) hybrid films were synthesized using the “grafting from” technique by incorporation of modified TiO₂–SiO₂ composite nanoparticles building blocks into PU matrix. Firstly, 3-aminopropyltriethysilane was employed to encapsulate TiO₂–SiO₂ composite nanoparticles’ surface. Secondly, the PU shell was tethered to the TiO₂–SiO₂ core surface via surface functionalized reaction. The particle size of TiO₂–SiO₂ composite sol was performed on dynamic light scattering, and the microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared. Thermogravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) employed to study the hybrid films. The average particle size of the TiO₂–SiO₂ composite particles is about 38 nm when the molar ratio of Ti/Si reaches to1:1. The TEM image indicates that TiO₂–SiO₂ composite nanoparticles are well dispersed in the PU matrix.     

Changes in the structure of composite colloid-polymer xerogels after cold isostatic pressing

Monolithic gels, prepared from different mixtures of colloidal silica in a sol solution containing tetraethoxysilane under powerful ultrasonic agitation (sonosols), were compacted at an isostatic pressure of 390 MPa. Then N₂ adsorption-desorption data were used to construct structural models of the gels using Monte-Carlo calculations on the basis of random close-packing (RCP) premises. Structural information on these composites obtained before compaction indicates that the characteristic uniform structure of silica colloid gel undergoes profound modification when it is mixed with silica sonogel. From a structural point of view, the behaviour under compaction of the sonogel phase, which exhibits a significant degree of microporosity, depends on the relative concentration of the colloidal phase. Two hierarchic levels of micropores were discerned. After compression, the size of the elementary particles—and their aggregates—of the sonogel phase increases from 1.6 to 2.1 nm radius when the colloidal phase content is increased from 30 to 82% by weight. For an intermediate content, 50% of the volume reduction is caused by compression of the sonogel phase at the micropore level.     

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.     

Synthesis of SiO2-TiO2 xerogels by sol-gel process

A new method to synthesize SiO₂-TiO₂ gels by sol-gel process has been developed. This technique uses tetraisopropylorthotitanate [Ti(O ⁱ Pr)₄] and tetraethylorthosilicate [TEOS]: they are mixed in the same solvent and then directly hydrolysed. This one-step reaction is possible because of the use of 2-methoxyethanol, a protic polar solvent. This alcohol plays two different specific roles: it acts as a solvent as well as a stabilizer of titanium alkoxide towards the hydrolysis-precipitation reaction. So, by an accurate adjustment of the quantity of methoxyethanol in the mixture, we can control the reactivity of the titanium precursor.Monolithic and transparent xerogels were obtained whatever the composition. Three monolithic SiO₂-TiO₂ gels containing 20, 50 and 75 mol% of TiO₂ were prepared and studied in details.By using the TG-DSC analysis, we can follow the evolution of the loss of water and organic residues.The structural evolution of gels during calcination is characterized by IR spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction.     

Photothermal and photocatalytic processes on TiO2 based materials prepared by sol-gel method

In the present work, Fe³⁺ doped TiO₂ coatings on glass substrates were prepared by dip-coating from a sol-gel solution. The influence of the dopant concentration on the structure, optical, photocatalytic and photothermal properties of the films was studied. The results obtained have shown a strong correlation between the catalytic properties and the amount of iron dopant and the temperature of the thermal treatment.     

Zirconium titanate synthesis by diethanol amine based sol-gel route

ZrTiO₄ powder are synthesized by a modified sol-gel route via bimetallic diethanol amine complex of zirconium and titanium alkoxides. Samples are cured at 140°C and calcined between 500–800°C. Powders are characterized with XRD, TGA, DTA, SEM and TEM methods. The ZrTiO₄ powders are obtained at 650°C from the amorphous form. No identified peaks can be attibuted to other phases, namely, zirconia and titania are not observed.     

SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> xerogels for tailoring the release of brilliant blue FCF

Xerogels consisting of SiO₂ and TiO₂ were explored for controlled release of brilliant blue FCF (BBF). Both SiO₂ and SiO₂–TiO₂ xerogels were prepared by way of sol–gel processing, and the BBF release behavior was compared. SiO₂–TiO₂ xerogels with varying TiO₂ content were also studied and the BBF release behavior was determined for each SiO₂–TiO₂ xerogel. It was found that the release of BBF from SiO₂ xerogels can be increased by the addition of TiO₂ content, and the amount and rate of BBF released from the SiO₂–TiO₂ xerogels can be changed by modifying the amount of TiO₂ included during the preparation of the xerogels, where the SiO₂–TiO₂ xerogels with a higher content of TiO₂ released a higher fraction of BBF in water media when compared to the release from SiO₂–TiO₂ xerogels with lower amounts of TiO₂. The experimental results have to be explained by a combination of porous structure, in situ dissolution–condensation during the BBF elution and the change of surface chemistry of the xerogel network with the addition of TiO₂.     

Synthesis of nanosized TiO2/SiO2 particles using microwave processes and their photocatalytic activity on the decomposition of orange II

The nanosized titania and TiO₂/SiO₂ particles were prepared by the microwave-hydrothermal method. The effect of physical properties TTIP/TEOS ratio and calcination temperature has been investigated. The major phase of the pure TiO₂ particle is of the anatase structure, and a rutile peak was observed above 800°C. In TiO₂/SiO₂ particles, however, no significant rutile phase was observed, although the calcination temperature was 900°C. No peaks for the silica crystal phase were observed at either silica/titania ratio. The crystallite size of TiO₂/SiO₂ particles decreases as compared to pure TiO₂ at high calcination temperatures. The TiO₂/SiO₂ particles show higher activity on the photocatalytic decomposition of orange II as compared to pure TiO₂ particles.     

Synthesis,characterization of SiO2 supported-industrial phosphoric acid catalyst for hydrolysis of NaBH4 solution

Abstract

Tunisian industrial phosphoric acid H₃PO₄ was supported on silica gel SiO₂ (SIPA) to catalyze the hydrolysis reaction of aqueous alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). The SiO₂ was produced from purified quartz sand using alkali fusion-acidification chemical process. The BET surface area results indicate that the prepared silica gel could reach a specific surface area up to 585 m²/g. The addition of PO₃H₂ functional groups resulted in an increase of surface acidity of SiO₂ catalyst as shown by FT-IR and DTA-DTG spectra. The total acidity of SIPA catalyst was determined by titration to be 2.8?mmol H⁺/g. SEM/EDS maps reveal the distribution of heavy metals on the silica surface. The effect of supported PO₃H₂ functional groups and heavy metals on the NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction was studied for different ratios of SIPA catalyst to NaBH₄. The sample 12SIPA/NaBH₄ leads to a very high hydrogen generation rate (up to 90%). The activation energy of hydrogen generation by NaBH₄ hydrolysis was 25.7?kJ mol^?1.     

Synthesis of high surface area nanocrystalline anatase-TiO2 powders derived from particulate sol-gel route by tailoring processing parameters

Stabilised titania sols were prepared using an additive free particulate sol-gel route, via electrostatic stabilisation mechanism, with various processing parameters. Peptisation temperature, 50°C and 70°C, and TiO₂ concentration, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 molar, were chosen as processing parameters during sol preparation. Results from TiO₂ particle size and zeta potential of sols revealed that the smallest titania hydrodynamic diameter (13 nm) and the highest zeta potential (47.7 mV) were obtained for the sol produced at the lower peptisation temperature of 50°C and lower TiO₂ concentration of 0.1 M. On the other hand, between the sols prepared at 70°C, smaller titania particles (20 nm) and higher zeta potential (46.3 mV) were achieved with increasing TiO₂ concentration up to 0.4 M. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) results of produced powders annealed at different temperatures showed that the 300°C annealed powder made from 0.1 M sol prepared at 50°C was a mixture of anatase and brookite, corresponding to a major phase of anatase (∼95% estimated), with the smallest average crystallite size of 1.3 nm and the highest specific surface area (SSA) of 193 m²/g. Furthermore, increasing TiO₂ concentration up to 0.4 molar for the sols prepared at 70°C resulted in decreasing the average crystallite size (1.9 nm at 300°C) and increasing SSA (116 m²/g at 300°C) of the powders annealed at different temperatures. Anatase-to-rutile phase transformation temperature was increased with decreasing peptisation temperature down to 50°C, whereas TiO₂ concentration had no effect on this transition. Anatase percentage increased with decreasing both peptisation temperature and TiO₂ concentration. Such prepared powders can be used in many applications in areas from photo catalysts to gas sensors.     

A sol-gel route for the development of rare-earth aluminum borate nanopowders and transparent thin films

A new sol-gel route was applied to obtain Y_0.9Er_0.1Al₃(BO₃)₄ crystalline powders and amorphous thin films by using Al(acac)₃, B(OPrⁱ)₃, Y(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, and Er(NO₃)₃·5H₂O as starting materials dissolved in propionic acid and ethyl alcohol mixtures. Our study shows that propionic acid acts as good chelant agent for yttrium and erbium ions while ethyl alcohol allows to dissolve Al(acac)₃. This process makes the resulting sols very stable to obtain homogeneous gels and transparent amorphous thin films. In addition, the propionic acid prevents the sol precipitation, making easy porous- and crack-free thin film depositions. Chemical reactions involved in the complexation were discussed. As-prepared powders and films are amorphous and present a good thermal stability due to their high glass transition (746 °C) and crystallization temperatures (830 °C). This new sol-gel route showed to be adequate to obtain dense and crack-free thin films free of organic and hydroxyl groups that can be considered as promising materials to be used in integrated optical systems.     

Anatase TiO2 porous thin films prepared by sol-gel method using CTAB surfactant

Anatase TiO₂ porous thin films were prepared on glass substrates by sol-gel method with Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) as a pore-forming agent, Tetrabutylorthotitanate as Ti precursor, ethanol as solvent and diethanolamine as chelating agent respectively. IR, TG-DSC, XRD and SEM analyzed the chemical and physical changes during sol-gel process and characteristics of the films. Effects of the amount of CTAB, alkane and water on morphology of the films were discussed and the principle of forming porous structure was proposed. It was shown that the diameter of pores was changed in the range of 30–400 nm.     

Fabrication and optical properties of core-shell structured spherical SiO2@GdVO4:Eu phosphors via sol-gel process

Europium-doped nanocrystalline GdVO₄ phosphor layers were coated on the surface of preformed submicron silica spheres by sol-gel method. The resulted SiO₂@Gd_0.95Eu_0.05VO₄ core-shell particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL), time resolved PL spectra and kinetic decays. The XRD results demonstrate that the Gd_0.95Eu_0.05VO₄ layers begin to crystallize on the SiO₂ spheres after annealing at 600 ^°C and the crystallinity increases with raising the annealing temperature. The obtained core-shell phosphors have spherical shape, narrow size distribution (average size ca. 600 nm), non-agglomeration. The thickness of the Gd_0.95Eu_0.05VO₄ shells on the SiO₂ cores could be easily tailored by varying the number of deposition cycles (50 nm for four deposition cycles). PL and CL show that the emissions are dominated by ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ (618 nm, red). The PL and CL intensities of Eu³⁺ increase with increasing the annealing temperature and the number of coating cycles. The optimum concentration for Eu³⁺ was determined to be 5 mol% of Gd³⁺ in GdVO₄ host.     

Preparation, characterization, and infrared emissivity property of optically active polyurethane/TiO2/SiO2 multilayered microspheres

Optically active polyurethane/titania/silica (LPU/TiO₂/SiO₂) multilayered core–shell composite microspheres were prepared by the combination of titania deposition on the surface of silica spheres and subsequent polymer grafting. LPU/TiO₂/SiO₂ was characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM and TEM, and the infrared emissivity value (8–14 μm) was investigated in addition. The results indicated that titania and polyurethane had been successfully coated onto the surfaces of silica microspheres. LPU/TiO₂/SiO₂ exhibited clearly multilayered core–shell construction. The infrared emissivity values reduced along with the increase of covering layers thus proved that the interfacial interactions had direct influence on the infrared emissivity. Besides, LPU/TiO₂/SiO₂ multilayered microspheres based on the optically active polyurethane took advantages of the orderly secondary structure and strengthened interfacial synergistic actions. Consequently, it possessed the lowest infrared emissivity value.     

Titania-lanthanum phosphate photoactive and hydrophobic new generation catalyst

Titania-lanthanum phosphate nanocomposites with multifunctional properties have been synthesized by aqueous sol-gel method. The precursor sols with varying TiO₂:LaPO₄ ratios were applied as thin coating on glass substrates in order to be transparent, hydrophobic, photocatalytically active coatings. The phase compositions of the composite powders were identified by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The anatase phase of TiO₂ in TiO₂-LaPO₄ composite precursors was found to be stable even on annealing at 800 °C. The glass substrates, coated with TL1 (TiO₂-LaPO₄ composition with 1 mol% LaPO₄) and TL50 (composite precursor containing TiO₂ and LaPO₄ with molar ratio 1:1) sols and annealed at 400 °C, produced contact angles of 74° and 92°, respectively, though it is only 62° for pure TiO₂ coating. The glass substrates, coated with TL50 sol, produced surfaces with relatively high roughness and uneven morphology. The TL1 material, annealed at 800 °C, has shown the highest UV photoactivity with an apparent rate constant, k_app=24×10⁻³ min⁻¹, which is over five times higher than that observed with standard Hombikat UV 100 (k_app=4×10⁻³ min⁻¹). The photoactivity combined with a moderate contact angle (85.3°) shows that this material has a promise as an efficient self-cleaning precursor.     

Synthesis of carbon nanotube/anatase titania composites by a combination of sol-gel and self-assembly at low temperature

A simple method is described for the synthesis of carbon nanotube/anatase titania composites by a combination of a sol-gel method with a self-assembly technique at 65 °C. This method makes use of polyelectrolyte for wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and providing them with adsorption sites for electrostatically driven TiO₂ nanoparticle deposition. The composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence for analyzing their crystal phase, microstructure, particle size, and other physicochemical properties. The results showed that MWCNT were covered with an anatase TiO₂ thin layer or surrounded by an anatase TiO₂ thick coating, which is constructed of TiO₂ particles about 6 nm in size. The composites were rich in surface hydroxyl groups. The excited e⁻ in conduction band of TiO₂ may migrate to MWCNT. Concerning the potential applicability, MWCNT/TiO₂ composites showed excellent photocatalytic activity toward the photodegradation of methyl orange.     

Synthesis and thermal evolution of TiO2-RuO2 xerogels

Gels of the Ti Ru O system, where , 0.001, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 (mol), have been synthesized by a polymeric sol-gel route from Ti (IV)-iso-propoxide and Ru (III) acetyl-acetonate (acac). The mechanisms of the hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions were studied by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The evolution of the xerogels as a function of temperature was also determined. At temperatures, as low as 200°C, mixtures of antase Ti Ru O (Ass) solid solution and rutile Ti Ru O solid solution (Rss) were attained for compositions with 0.3. For , only the anatase phase is present (A) and for , mixtures of anatase Ti Ru O (Ass) solid solution, rutile Ti Ru O solid solution (Rss) and Ru Ti O (RuO ss) solid solution were attained. RuO catalyzes the anatase to rutile transformation, even at RuO contents as low as 0.001 mol. Although, from 300 to 400°C the solid solubility of RuO into rutile-TiO phase is located at , from 500°C that value is located in the 0.05 range. This fact could be due to the metastability of the rutile solid solutions containing ruthenium oxide above 400°C. According to semiquantitative transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX) analyses, at 700°C, there are compositional variations in both solid solutions, Rss and RuO ss. Thus, the system is chemically heterogeneous. The amount of Ti ions hosted into the RuO lattice in the solid solution is lower than that of Ru ions into the rutile-TiO lattice. At this temperature, the contents of these solid solutions are mol% RuO into the TiO lattice (the maximum value found) and around 8.0 mol% TiO (the maximum value found) into RuO . The RuO volatilization can promote the segregation of the ruthenium oxide giving rise to the heterogeneity and the metastability observed in this system.     

High photocatalytic activity and stability for decomposition of gaseous acetaldehyde on TiO2/Al2O3 composite films coated on foam nickel substrates by sol-gel processes

A set of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films coated on foam nickel that modified by Al₂O₃ films as transition layer (indicated as TiO₂/Al₂O₃ films) were synthesized via sol-gel route. The bulk and surface properties of the TiO₂/Al₂O₃ films were characterized by thermal gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and BET. The photocatalytic activities of TiO₂/Al₂O₃ films were investigated based on the degradation of gaseous acetaldehyde under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The foam nickel is a promising substrate material in practical applications because of its excellent hydrodynamic properties for gas passing. The TiO₂/Al₂O₃ composite films showed much higher photocatalytic activity and stability for degradation of gaseous acetaldehyde than the onefold TiO₂ films. The significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity and stability can be ascribed to the coating of Al₂O₃ transition layer, which concentrates the target substances around TiO₂ particles and increases the specific surface area (SSA) of the substrate (the SSAs of bare foam nickel and Al₂O₃ modified foam nickel are 0.12 and 113.7 m²/g, respectively) to provide more sites for TiO₂ loading.     

Densely packed single-crystal Bi2Fe4O9 nanowires fabricated from a template-induced sol-gel route

Densely packed single-crystal Bi₂Fe₄O₉ nanowires were successfully synthesized by a template-induced citrate-based sol-gel process. The structural properties of the nanowires were characterized using many techniques. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Bi₂Fe₄O₉ nanowires possessed a uniform length and diameter, which were controlled by the thickness and the pore diameter of the applied porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, respectively. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) indicated that Bi₂Fe₄O₉ nanowires had an orthorhombic single-crystal structure. Furthermore, the energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy demonstrated that the stoichiometric Bi₂Fe₄O₉ was formed. The possible formation mechanism of nanowires was also discussed.     

Structure of TiO2 in TiO2-SiO2 prepared by a complexing agent-assisted sol-gel procedure

Many types of TiO₂-SiO₂ (Ti:Si=50:50 mol%) were prepared by the sol-gel procedure with and without 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD) as an organic ligand. The effect of MPD on the gel structure and the properties of the TiO₂ crystals were studied by XRD and raman spectroscopy, and the effect of the sol standing time on the properties of the TiO₂ crystals were also studied by XRD spectroscopy. In the gels with MPD, anatase of TiO₂ appeared at approximately 580°C, and the crystal structures were similar despite the difference in the gel preparation procedure. The titania gels with MPD were presumed to be dispersed in the silica gel matrix without any Ti-O-Si bond. In the presence of MPD, the formation of titania gels is controlled and the specified TiO₂ crystal is produced.