Calcination of SiO2-Aerogel in Inert Atmosphere

Thermal treatment of SiO₂-aerogel in inert atmosphere, in contrary to oxidizing atmosphere, yields a series of gas products with great range of mole masses (12–154 g mol^–1) and every product has specific way of evolving. These substances are represented by CO, CO₂, CH₄, CH₃OH, C₂H₆, C₂H₄ and aromates. Part of evolving products, which are formed during catalytic condensation, is trapped under the surface and after carbonisation it causes opacity of surface layer of aerogel.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

SiO2-TiO2 membranes by the sol-gel process

The use of membranes for gas separation represents an important alternative from the viewpoint of energy conservation in industrial separation processes. Polymeric Si-Ti sols prepared from titanium isopropoxide (Ti(OPrⁱ)₄) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were used to deposit membranes on α-Al₂O₃ supports. Acetylacetone (2,4 pentanedione, acacH) and isoeugenol (2-methoxy-4-propenylphenol, isoH) were employed separately to chelate the Ti precursor in order to slow down the chemical reactivity, avoiding precipitation. The radial distribution functions (RDF) of the gels aging at room temperature were obtained. The xerogels were studied by Thermal Gravimetric (TGA) and Differential Thermal (DTA) Analysis in air. The Microporosity of the solids calcined at 773 K was determined by N₂-adsorption at 77 K. The membrane thickness was determined from SEM photographs. Preliminary permeance results of the supported membranes on commercial alumina support were obtained for He, N₂ and CO₂ in a single gas equipment. At 773 K the separation factors α(He/CO₂) and α(N₂/CO₂) for both membranes exceeds the theoretical Knudsen limit.     

Shape evolution and thermal stability of Ag nanoparticles on spherical SiO2 substrates

In this paper, the shape evolution and thermal stability of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on spherical SiO₂ substrates were investigated by means of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The initial Ag NPs at room temperature were semispherical-like, with an average size of 9 nm in half-height width, well-dispersed on spherical SiO₂ substrates. No obvious shape change was observed when the semispherical NPs of Ag were heated at temperature lower than 550 °C. The shape of the semispherical Ag NPs changed gradually into a spherical one in the temperature range of 550-700 °C, where surface diffusion and surface premelting took place. When the heating temperature was increased up to 750 °C, the spherical Ag NPs were found to desquamate from the substrates due to the decreases of the contact area and the binding force between Ag NPs and SiO₂ substrates. A possible mechanism for the desquamation of Ag NPs from the SiO₂ sphere surface is proposed according to the results of in situ TEM observation and DSC analysis.     

Preparation and Evaluation of Octadecyl-Bonded ZrO2/SiO2

ZrO₂/SiO₂ particles, which were prepared by a layer-by-layer self-assemble technique and consist of micrometer-sized silica spheres as cores and nanometer-sized zirconia particles as surface coatings, have a higher surface area and pore volume than other zirconia supports have. Further more it is more stable than silica is. In this paper we made a reversed-phase support by bonding octadecyltrichlorosilane on ZrO₂/SiO₂ particles, it had a comparable high carbon amount of 9.62% and good chemical stability being stable up to pH 11. The chromatographic behavior showed that the support acted as a true reversed chromatographic stationary phase and had a hydrophobic selectivity. Basic and aromatic compounds are well separated and the peaks are symmetrical.     

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.     

A convenient synthesis of 2-aminocyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylic esters by FeCl3/SiO2 nanoparticles as robust and efficient catalyst

A simple and green method has been developed for the synthesis of 2-aminocyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylic esters through a one-pot three-component condensation reaction of primary amines, ethyl acetoacetate and chalcones using FeCl3/SiO2 nanoparticles in ethanol. This method has several advantages such as high to excellent product yields in short time, using an inexpensive and reusable catalyst and available starting material.     

Effects of doping on the thermal stability of spindle-shaped γ-Fe2O3 particles

Spindle-shaped α-FeOOH particles were synthesized using the chemical coprecipitation method in Fe(CO₃)_x(OH)_2(?x) suspensions system by adding metallic ions. The spindle-shaped γ-Fe₂O₃ particles were obtained by dehydration of α-FeOOH, and subsequent reduction and oxidation. Its thermal stability was investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). It was found that the transition temperature of γ-Fe₂O₃→α-Fe₂O₃ of samples doped with metallic ions is higher than that of the pure γ-Fe₂O₃ and increasing with increase of the size of the metallic ions, and γ-Fe₂O₃ by doping with two or more different metallic ions together has even higher thermal stability. The origin of the improved thermal stability was discussed. Additionally, the magnetic properties of γ-Fe₂O₃ were measured.     

Kinetic analysis of the thermal stability of lithium silicates (Li4SiO4 and Li2SiO3)

The kinetics describing the thermal decomposition of Li₄SiO₄ and Li₂SiO₃ have been analysed. While Li₄SiO₄ decomposed on Li₂SiO₃ by lithium sublimation, Li₂SiO₃ was highly stable at the temperatures studied. Li₄SiO₄ began to decompose between 900 and 1000 °C. However, at 1100 °C or higher temperatures, Li₄SiO₄ melted, and the kinetic data of its decomposition varied. The activation energy of both processes was estimated according to the Arrhenius kinetic theory. The energy values obtained were −408 and −250 kJ mol⁻¹ for the solid and liquid phases, respectively. At the same time, the Li₄SiO₄ decomposition process was described mathematically as a function of a diffusion-controlled reaction into a spherical system. The activation energy for this process was estimated to be −331 kJ mol⁻¹. On the other hand, Li₂SiO₃ was not decomposed at high temperatures, but it presented a very high preferential orientation after the heat treatments.     

Proton Affinity at the Porous Surface of SiO2-TiO2 Binary Oxides

SiO₂-TiO₂ binary oxides are typically used as solid supports for different applications, from catalysts to optics. Tailoring the pore diameter, pore size distribution, and surface area is of great importance for any of those applications. Tailoring the chemical properties of the porous surface, e.g. in terms of polarity or acidity, is of capital importance as well. Thus, in catalytic applications or in sensing devices, where diffusion of a solute through the matrix is required, the affinity/compatibility of the solute with the matrix porous surface will determine the proper work of the device. Moreover, when the sensor is based on the adsorption of an active organic molecule or biomolecule on the porous surface matrix, the proton concentration at the surface may also modify the behavior of the active molecule. In this work, the proton affinity of the porous surface is tailored by the preparation of number of SiO₂-TiO₂ binary oxides with different SiO₂/TiO₂ weight ratios. Proton affinity is studied through the incorporation of a pH indicator as bromocresol green.     

Application of response surface methodology for optimization of the stability of asphaltene particles in crude oil by TiO2/SiO2 nanofluids under static and dynamic conditions

In this work, the onset of asphaltene flocculation for an Iranian crude oil by titration of samples with heptane in the presence and absence of the TiO₂/SiO₂ nanofluids was obtained by Near-IR spectroscopy. Nanoparticles and nanocomposites were characterized by BET, FESEM, EDX, XRD, and XRF analysis. Modeling and optimization of inhibition of asphaltene flocculation process by TiO₂/SiO₂ nanofluids were conducted by response surface methodology (RSM). Under optimum conditions (nanocomposite composition = 0.04 wt% (80%TiO₂:20%SiO₂), salinity = 4.01 wt%, and pH = 3.42), the onset point increased. For nanofluids stability analysis, the optimum nanofluid was compared with the two other nanofluids (SiO₂ and TiO₂) by visual observation method. The results indicated that high stability and surface area of the 80%TiO₂ nanocomposites increase asphaltene adsorption on the particles surface that subsequently increases the onset point. In addition, the optimum nanofluid performance on the carbonate rocks was evaluated by contact angle and core flooding experiments. The 80% TiO₂ nanofluid changed the wettability of carbonate rocks from strongly oil-wet to strongly water-wet condition and also decreased the residual oil saturation and enhanced the oil recovery with an increase in the recovery factor of about 15%.     

Preparation of Cu/SiO2 Catalyst by Solution Exchange of Wet Silica Gel

Structural formation process of Ni/SiO₂ and Cu/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by solution exchange of wet silica gel was investigated. Microstructures of Cu/SiO₂ and Ni/SiO₂ were quite different from each other. In the case of Cu/SiO₂, Cu particles with diameter of ca. 3–5 nm dispersed homogeneously at less Cu content, and the particle size of Cu as well as pore size of silica gel support increased with increasing Cu content. In the Ni/SiO₂, the Ni particles with diameter of ca. 6–10 nm gathered densely to form aggregates in silica matrix resulting in sea-island structure, whereas the size of Ni particle slightly increased with increasing Ni content. The difference in the structure of the metal-silica composites is probably caused by the difference in interaction between silica gel network and metal ions during drying and heating processes.     

Thermoanalytical and spectroscopic studies of the synthesis of suppokted palladium catalyst in A H2/PdCl2/SiO2 parent system

A 5 wt% Pd/SiO₂ catalyst was synthesized by heating PdCl₂-impregnated SiO₂ in H₂ at 300°C for 2 h. It was found that the metal particle dispersion is improved when the reduction step is preceded by calcination at 300°C for 2h. Thermogravimetry of the impregnated support in air, N₂ and H₂ atmospheres was used to monitor the interactions occurring during the various preparative steps (i.e. drying, calcination and reduction) of the catalyst. The solid prduct of each preparative step was characterized by X-ray diffractometry and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results indicate that following the drying step (at 110°C in air) the palladium occurs in two detectable forms: PdCl₂ particles and Si?O?Pdⁿ⁺ surface species. The calcination appears to transform the PdCl₂ particles into the latter surface species. The H₂-reduction eventually converts the surface species into finely-dispersed Pd° metal particles (average size=8–14 nm). No other reduction products, such as Pd_ySi_x, were detected.     

Fe2O3-ZrO2层柱蒙脱石的合成和热稳定性

蒙脱石是具有2∶1层状结构的粘土矿物,酸化蒙脱石用途广泛[1]。利用较大体积多聚金属阳离子与蒙脱石进行离子交换并把蒙脱石层撑开,可以得到复合材料—层柱蒙脱石(ＰＩＬＭ),它具有二维的层柱结构,其孔径比一般的分子筛大。其孔径还可以根据蒙脱石离子交换当量和交换阳离子的体积大小加以控制。它具有良好的热稳定性和酸性,并且合成方法简单。蒙脱石和膨润土在我国分布广泛,储量大。因此ＰＩＬＭ在载体、吸附剂及较大分子转化催化剂等方面具有较好的应用前景。传统的层柱蒙脱石是由单组分多聚金属阳离子与蒙脱石进行交联而合成的,本文在…     

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%.     

An Efficient Procedure for the Synthesis of Benzoxazole and Benzothiazole Derivatives Using a H2O2/SiO2-FeCl3 System

A series of benzoxazole and benzothiazoles was readily prepared from the reaction of ortho-aminophenol/ortho-aminothiophenol and aldehydes using solid silica supported ferric chloride (SiO₂-FeCl₃) as catalyst followed by oxidation with H₂O₂ under ambient conditions. Some of advantages of this method are a simple and convenient procedure, easy purification, and shorter reaction times.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Sol–Gel Coatings in the SiO2-TiO2 System

In the present work, the influence of substituted Si-alkoxides on the structural and optical properties of films obtained in the SiO₂-TiO₂ system was studied. Methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) and 3-(tri-methoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TSPM) were used as SiO₂ sources and Ti(OBu)₄ was used as TiO₂ source. Acetylacetone was added to the Ti(OBu)₄ as chelating agent and the synthesis was carried out in acid medium. The films were deposited on oxidized Si-wafers by spin-coating. The films were characterized by XRD, spectro-ellipsometry (SE), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results obtained have shown that in the case of hybrid films the desired thickness could be obtained in a single deposition step. The thickness of the films and the optical properties are controlled by the bulkiness of the organic substitute bounded to Si. Among other optical applications, the potential use of such films as optical waveguides is proposed.     

Preparation of surface plasmon resonance biosensor based on magnetic core/shell Fe3O4/SiO2 and Fe3O4/Ag/SiO2 nanoparticles

In this paper, surface plasmon resonance biosensors based on magnetic core/shell Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) and Fe(3)O(4)/Ag/SiO(2) nanoparticles were developed for immunoassay. With Fe(3)O(4) and Fe(3)O(4)/Ag nanoparticles being used as seeding materials, Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) and Fe(3)O(4)/Ag/SiO(2) nanoparticles were formed by hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The aldehyde group functionalized magnetic nanoparticles provide organic functionality for bioconjugation. The products were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), FTIR and UV-vis absorption spectrometry. The magnetic nanoparticles possess the unique superparamagnetism property, exceptional optical properties and good compatibilities, and could be used as immobilization matrix for goat anti-rabbit IgG. The magnetic nanoparticles can be easily immobilized on the surface of SPR biosensor chip by a magnetic pillar. The effects of Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) and Fe(3)O(4)/Ag/SiO(2) nanoparticles on the sensitivity of SPR biosensors were also investigated. As a result, the SPR biosensors based on Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) nanoparticles and Fe(3)O(4)/Ag/SiO(2) nanoparticles exhibit a response for rabbit IgG in the concentration range of 1.25-20.00 μg ml(-1) and 0.30-20.00 μg ml(-1), respectively.     

Synthesis and thermal investigation of Na2Cd(SO4)2·2H2O

The synthesis and thermal decomposition of Na₂(SO₄)₂·2H₂O in both air and nitrogen are described. The synthesis was performed by two different procedures, but in both cases the same product was obtained, corresponding to the general formula given above. The crystals obtained were investigated by methods of X-ray powder diffraction, and chemical and thermal analysis. The differences in thermal decomposition in air and nitrogen are discussed.     

Devitrification Behavior of Calcium Phosphate Glasses Containing Al2O3 and SiO2 Additives

The effects of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ additives on the crystallization of calcium phosphate glasses were studied. When the Al₂O₃ content was higher than 7 mol%, surface devitrification occurred in the glasses. However, for glasses with Al₂O₃ contents higher than 10 mol%, bulk devitrification predominanted. For the glasses with SiO₂, a surface devitrification mechanism predominanted. Non-isothermal DTA techniques were applied in order to establish the devitrification mechanism, and the kinetic parameters of crystal growth were obtained. The parameter m depends on the mechanism and morphology of devitrification of calcium phosphate, glass containing SiO₂ as additive, the values of m being lower than 1.2. These results indicate that the devitrification is controlled by the reaction at the glass-crystal interface, or occurs from surface nuclei. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.