Oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by highly charged polyelectrolyte-grafted silica nanoparticles

Fully sulfonated poly(styrenesulfonate) brushes were grown from the surface of colloidal silica particles and used to prepare stable trichloroethylene-in-water and heptane-in-water Pickering emulsions. These particles were highly charged and colloidally stable in water but could not be dispersed in trichloroethylene or heptane. Both two-phase (emulsion plus neat water) and three-phase (emulsion separating neat oil and water phases) systems were observed, with water-continuous emulsion phases in all cases. Emulsion phases containing as much as 83% (v/v) oil were stable for over six months. Poly(styrenesulfonate)-grafted particles were very efficient emulsifiers; stable emulsion phases were prepared when using as little as 0.04 wt% particles. The emulsifying effectiveness of the poly(styrenesulfonate)-grafted silica particles can be attributed to the hydrophobicity of the vinylic polymer backbone that makes this highly charged polyelectrolyte unusually surface active at the oil/water interface.     

SiO2/PVAc无机-有机复合微球的合成及其膜性能研究

以纳米二氧化硅粒子(SiO2)为稳定剂,在少量反应型阴离子乳化剂——烯丙氧基羟丙磺酸钠(HAPS)作助稳定剂的情况下,制备了具有草莓型结构的二氧化硅/聚醋酸乙烯酯(SiO2/PVAc)无机-有机纳米复合微球.研究表明,纳米SiO2与PVAc的氢键作用是形成这种单分散草莓型SiO2/PVAc无机-有机纳米复合微球的关键.透射电镜(TEM)观察显示,纳米SiO2吸附在PVAc表面,形成草莓型结构.讨论了纳米二氧化硅溶胶的种类和用量、乳化剂种类对复合微球形态及其膜性能的影响,并讨论了复合微球的形成机理.     

Synthesis of metal nanoparticles stabilized by metal-carbon bonds

A new method for the preparation of metal nanoparticles in organic media is proposed. This is based on the formation of metal-carbon bonds after reduction of the corresponding diazonium derivative of the capping ligand. The particles are very stable due to the strong metal-ligand covalent bond, and the proposed method appears to be an alternative for the preparation of monolayer-protected metal nanoparticles when the formation of metal-sulfur or metal-nitrogen bonds needs to be avoided.     

Synthesis of copper nanoparticles stabilized by polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate

We studied the influence of synthesis parameters and the composition of the reaction mixture on the size and morphology of copper nanoparticles (NPs). Use of a surfactant (polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate) is promising for confining NP growth and stabilizing NPs. Concentration ranges of existence were determined for copper NP dispersions stable to aggregation and sedimentation. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used to show that: the NP size varied from 10 to 65 nm, the average diameter was 25–35 nm, and the shape was spherical. The sizes of copper NP aggregates were determined.     

Preparation and Z-Scan nonlinear optical characterization of Au/SiO2- and Ag/SiO2-supported nanoparticles dispersed in silica sonogel films

Au/SiO₂ and Ag/SiO₂ supported metal-nanoparticles (MNPs) were implemented to fabricate SiO₂-based inorganic?Cinorganic hybrid sonogel films. Prepared Au/SiO₂- and Ag/SiO₂-MNPs exhibited low 2D-HCP crystallinity with particle diameters below 10?nm and homogeneous size distribution. The catalyst-free (CF) sonogel route was successfully implemented to produce these optically active nanocomposite films by doping the liquid sol-phase with these MNP systems and its subsequent deposition onto glass substrates via standard spin-coating procedures. The easy MNP-loading within the mesoporous dielectric sonogel network evidenced a huge chemical affinity between the silica sonogel hosting system and the guest SiO₂-supported MNPs. This fact allowed us to fabricate high quality hybrid films suitable for cubic nonlinear optical (NLO) characterizations via the Z-Scan technique. Indeed, the hosting sonogel network provided adequate thermal and mechanical stability protecting the active MNPs from environment conditions and diminished their tendency to aggregate; thus, preserving their pristine optical properties and morphology, giving rise to stable sol?Cgel hybrid films appropriate for photonic applications. Comprehensive morphological, structural, spectroscopic and nonlinear photophysical characterizations were optimally performed to the developed hybrid films. Our results have shown that the crystalline nature of the implemented MNPs, their small sizes and appropriate guest?Chost stabilizing interactions play a crucial role in the observation of improved cubic NLO-properties of these MNP structures embedded within the highly pure CF-sonogel confinement.     

Synthesis and characterization of photoswitchable fluorescent SiO2 nanoparticles

Switchable fluorescent silica nanoparticles have been prepared by covalently incorporating a fluorophore and a photochromic compound inside the particle core. The fluorescence can be switched reversibly between an on‐ and off‐state via energy transfer. The particles were synthesized using different amounts of the photoswitchable compound (spiropyran) and the fluorophore (rhodamine B) in a size distribution between 98 and 140 nm and were characterized in terms of size, switching properties, and fluorescence efficiency by TEM, and UV\Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and study of gold nanoparticles stabilized by bioflavonoids

A new procedure for the preparation of biocompatible gold nanoparticles using bioflavonoids: rutin, quercetin, and luteolin as reducing agents and stabilizers was proposed. On varying the bioflavonoid concentration, nanoparticles of different size are formed. By the combined use of spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, the nanoparticle size was estimated (40–50 nm). Uniform and highly dispersed gold nanoparticles were obtained at Au: rutin ratios of 1: 1, 2: 1, and 4: 1 and Au: quercetin ratios of 2: 1 and 4: 1. The nanoparticle yield remains almost constant as the Au: rutin ratio varies over a broad range from 1: 1 to 12: 1. It was suggested that complete reduction of Au^III to Au⁰ with a large excess of Au is accompanied by extensive oxidation of bioflavonoid involving an intermediate oxidant formed in the system due to the high oxidative capacity of Au^III. For elucidating the catalytic role of bioflavonoids in the formation of gold nanoparticles, quantum chemical modeling of the process was performed.     

Synthesis and electromagnetic properties of polyaniline-coated silica/maghemite nanoparticles

Polyaniline coated silica/maghemite nanoparticles (PANI/SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ composites) were synthesized by the combination of a sol-gel process and an in-situ polymerization method, in which ferrous and ferric salts as well as tetraethyl orthosilica (TEOS) acted as the precursor for γ-Fe₂O₃ and silica, respectively. As a result, the SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ particle showed a core-shell structure, with γ-Fe₂O₃ as the magnetic core and silica as the shell of the particle. The shell thickness can be controlled by changing the TEOS concentration. The PANI/SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ composites revealed a multilayer core-shell structure, where PANI is the outer shell of the composite. The doping level and the conductivity of PANI/SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ composites decreased with increasing the TEOS content due to the presence of the less coated PANI on the SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ core at higher TEOS content. For a SQUID analysis at room temperature, all γ-Fe₂O₃ containing composites showed a typical superparamagnetic behavior. The saturation magnetization of SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles decreased with increasing the TEOS content due to the increase in silica shell thickness, while the saturation magnetization of PANI/SiO₂/γ-Fe₂O₃ composites also decreased with increasing the TEOS content, which is attributed to the lower conductivity of PANI in the composites at higher TEOS content.     

Synthesis of nitric oxide-releasing silica nanoparticles

The synthesis and characterization of a new nitric oxide (NO)-releasing scaffold prepared from amine-functionalized silica nanoparticles are reported. Inorganic-organic hybrid silica was prepared via cocondensation of tetraethoxy- or tetramethoxysilane (TEOS or TMOS) and aminoalkoxysilane with appropriate amounts of ethanol (or methanol), water, and ammonia. The amine functional groups in the silica were converted to N-diazeniumdiolate NO donors via exposure to high pressures of NO (5 atm) under basic conditions. Control over both the structure and concentration of the silane precursors (i.e., tetraalkoxy- and aminoalkoxysilanes) and specific synthetic conditions allowed for the preparation of NO donor silica particles of widely varying sizes (d = 20-500 nm), NO payloads (50-1780 nmol.mg-1), maximum amounts of NO released (10-5500 ppb.mg-1), half-lives (0.1-12 h), and NO release durations (up to 30 h). The silica nanoparticles were characterized by solid-state 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), elemental analysis, and gas adsorption-desorption isotherms. The advantages of silica-derived NO storage/delivery systems over previously reported macromolecular NO donors include the ability to (1) store large quantities of NO, (2) modulate NO release kinetics, and (3) readily tune particle size based on the composition of the particle. In addition, a one-pot strategy for preparing the NO donor silica allows for straightforward, high-throughput synthesis and purification.     

Synergistic interaction in emulsions stabilized by a mixture of silica nanoparticles and cationic surfactant

Using a range of complementary experiments, a detailed investigation into the behavior of dodecane-water emulsions stabilized by a mixture of silica nanoparticles and pure cationic surfactant has been made. Both emulsifiers prefer to stabilize o/w emulsions. At high pH, particles are ineffective emulsifiers, whereas surfactant-stabilized emulsions become increasingly stable to coalescence with concentration. In mixtures, no emulsion phase inversion occurs although synergism between the emulsifiers leads to enhanced stability at either fixed surfactant concentration or fixed particle concentration. Emulsions are most stable under conditions where particles have negligible charge and are most flocculated. Freeze fracture scanning electron microscopy confirms the presence of particle flocs at drop interfaces. At low pH, particles and surfactant are good emulsifiers alone. Synergism is also displayed in these mixtures, with the extent of creaming being minimum when particles are most flocculated. Experiments have been undertaken in order to offer an explanation for the latter synergy. By determining the adsorption isotherm of surfactant on particles in water, we show that surfactant addition initially leads to particle flocculation followed by re-dispersion. Using suitable contact angle measurements at oil-water-solid interfaces, we show that silica surfaces initially become increasingly hydrophobic upon surfactant addition, as well as surfactant adsorption lowering the oil-water interfacial tension. A competition exists between the influence of surfactant on the contact angle and the tension in the attachment energy of a particle to the interface.     

Synthesis and characterization of FePt nanoparticles and FePt nanoparticle/SiO2-matrix composite films

Superparamagnetic face-centered cubic (fcc) FePt nanoparticles were synthesized using a polyol process. The effect of reaction temperature and molar ratio of Fe(CO)₅ to Pt(acac)₂ on the structure, composition and morphology of nanoparticles has been investigated. The optimum processing condition has been obtained for producing well-monodisperse fcc-phase FePt nanoparticles with the 2:1?molar ratio of Fe-Pt at 220?°C. In order to circumvent the problem of FePt particle coalescence during high temperature annealing for the L1₀ ordering, FePt nanoparticle/SiO₂-matrix composite films have been fabricated by sol?Cgel method. The experimental results confirm that the amorphous SiO₂ matrix effectively inhibits the grain growth and particle aggregation during 700?°C annealing for 1?h. Well-monodisperse face-centered tetragonal (fct) FePt particles embedded in the SiO₂ matrix can be obtained with the long-range chemical order parameter S of ~0.74, indicating partially ordered L1₀ phase transition in FePt/SiO₂ composite films. The FePt/SiO₂ system exhibits a hysteretic behavior with smaller coercive field of 1,450 Oe. The incomplete phase transition from cubic deredat height maxsium (A ₁-disordered phase to tetragonal L1₀-ordered phase) might be responsible for it.     

Synthesis and physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles stabilized by acid gelatin

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction of silver nitrate with sodium borohydride at widely varied concentrations of the starting reagents. A physicochemical study of the synthesized nanosystems was carried out. The stabilizing ability of acid gelatin in the systems under study was considered. The stability diagram in the coordinates initial concentration of silver nitrate-concentration of gelatin was constructed.     

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.     

HPLC separation of nitrogen-containing compounds on silica gel modified with gold nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan

The potentialities of using silica gel modified with gold nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan are evaluated in the normal phase of HPLC as an example of the separation of aniline and pyridine derivatives, as well as triazole fungicides by elution with mixtures of hexane with isopropyl alcohol, isobutanol, or chloroform. The influence of the nature and content of the polar additive on the efficiency and separation selectivity of the column have been studied. The possibility of separating mixtures containing penconazole, propiconazole, diniconazole, difenoconazole, and aminopyridines is shown.     

Factors controlling the formation and stability of air bubbles stabilized by partially hydrophobic silica nanoparticles

Air bubbles have been formed using partially hydrophobic silica nanoparticles as the stabilizer. The particles were of primary particle size 20 nm, chemically treated to different degrees with dichlorodimethylsilane to render them partially hydrophobic. Above a certain bubble size range (typically 80-microm diameter), the bubbles seemed to be almost indefinitely stable, while for any size above 20 microm their stability against disproportionation is far better than bubbles stabilized by any protein film investigated in previous studies. A possible theoretical justification for this observation is presented. Bubbles could be formed by shaking water with the particles, but a much higher volume fraction of bubbles was obtained by pressurizing the aqueous phase to 5 atm overnight followed by suddenly releasing the pressure to nucleate bubbles within the silica dispersion. Sonicating the silica dispersion before nucleation also gave more bubbles, which were also found to be more stable. There appeared to be an optimum degree of surface hydrophobicity that gave maximum foamability and foam stability, where around 20-33% of the silanol groups on the silica surface had been converted to dimethylsilane groups. However, a sharp increase in stability occurred when between 1.8 and 2 mol dm(-3) NaCl was also included in the aqueous phase. The change in stability due to inclusion of salt can be rationalized in terms of changes occurring in the value of the particle contact angle. The effects of increasing sonication and an optimum surface chemical treatment can be explained by the need to make the particles sufficiently hydrophobic so that they adsorb strongly enough, while at the same time minimizing their tendency to aggregate in the bulk aqueous phase, which hinders their adsorption. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy of the bubble dispersions suggests that a large volume fraction of stable bubbles is only formed when the particles adsorbed to the bubbles are also part of a spanning silica particle network in the bulk aqueous solution, forming a weak gel with a finite yield stress.     

HClO4/SiO2催化合成橙花素

在二氧化硅负载高氯酸(HClO4/SiO2)催化下,β-萘酚与乙醇反应合成了橙花素,收率86.O%,其结构经1H NMR和IR确证.