A colloid "digesting" route to novel, thermally stable high surface area ZrO2 and Pd/ZrO2 catalytic materials

Zirconia having high thermal stability and high surface area (up to 160 m(2)/g at 700 degrees C) has been prepared by a colloidal "digesting" process. This material having demonstrated high surface areas at elevated temperatures was then applied as a catalyst support. A Pd colloid with diameter of approximately 12 nm has been successfully deposited on the high surface area zirconia material. All systems have been well characterized by TEM, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption isotherms, FTIR, elemental analysis and dynamic light scattering techniques. The colloidal Pd particles have been found homogeneously well dispersed in the hydrous zirconia matrix without aggregation. The Pd/ZrO2 catalysts have been screened for cyclohexene and 1-hexene hydrogenation activity and it was found that the catalyst is extremely active.     

Mesostructure,fractal properties and thermal decomposition of hydrous zirconia and hafnia

By use of small angle and ultra small angle neutron scattering techniques it was established that amorphous xerogels of hydrous zirconia and hafnia possess fractal properties in a wide range of scales, and the fractal dimension of these materials can be intentionally modified by changing their precipitation pH. It was found that the changes in fractal dimension and specific surface area of hydrous zirconia and hafnia xerogels are governed by the changes in the adsorption of anions onto their surface. It was demonstrated that particle size and specific surface area of ZrO₂ and HfO₂ nanopowders prepared by thermal decomposition of hydrous zirconia and hafnia xerogels depends strongly on the mesostructure and synthesis conditions of these xerogels.     

Relation of Fractal Characteristics with Structural Parameters of Nanosized ZrO2 Determined by Various Methods

Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry - The fractal dimensions of nanodispersed zirconia determined by the BET and SAXS methods are compared. The fractal dimensions were shown to depend on the...     

Preparation of Porous ZrO2 and Study on Its Properties

IntroductionSolid super- strong acid SO2 -4/ Zr O2 can be usedat a high temperature,dissociated from productand reactivated easily[1— 3 ] . Researchers have madeefforts to investigate into it[4— 7] . However,it hassome shortcomings of lower specific surface area,afewer number of surface acid centers,and easyinactivation. Generally,zirconia for catalyticapplication is prepared by the calcination ofhydrous zirconia above 70 0 K,or by the hydrolysisof zirconium tetrachloride at a high tempera…     

耐高温高比表面氧化铬/氧化锆体系的制备和表征

采用浸渍法和共沉淀法制备了CrOx/ZrO2样品.制备过程中所得沉淀都经100 ℃碱液回流老化24 h.通过X射线衍射、X射线光电子能谱、氮吸附、差热-热重分析等手段对样品进行了表征.结果证实,碱液回流过程中会有SiO2从所用的玻璃器皿进入样品， SiO2的表面修饰作用提高了载体的热稳定性.氧化铬的引入进一步提高了所得样品的比表面和热稳定性.与浸渍法相比，共沉淀法制备的样品具有更好的性能.其中铬锆摩尔比为0.15时，用NaOH作沉淀剂， pH值为13的条件下制备的样品在1000 ℃焙烧后比表面仍达到121 m2•g－1.     

Environmentally abundant anions influence the nucleation, growth, Ostwald ripening, and aggregation of hydrous Fe(III) oxides

The simultaneous homogeneous and heterogeneous precipitation of hydrous Fe(III) oxides was investigated in the presence of environmentally ubiquitous anions (nitrate, chloride, and sulfate). Experiments were conducted with 10(-4) M Fe(III) at acidic pH (pH = 3.7 ± 0.2), which often occurs at acid mine drainage sites or geologic CO(2) storage aquifers near injection wells. Quartz was used as a model substrate for heterogeneous precipitation. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and grazing incidence SAXS (GISAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were conducted. In situ SAXS/GISAXS quantified the size, total particle volume, number, and surface area evolutions of the primary nanoparticles formed in the nitrate and chloride systems. In both systems, the heterogeneously precipitated particles were smaller than the homogeneously precipitated particles. Compared with chloride, the volume of heterogeneously precipitated hydrous Fe(III) oxides on the quartz surface was 10 times more in the nitrate system. After initial fast heterogeneous nucleation in both nitrate and chloride systems, nucleation, growth, and aggregation occurred in the nitrate system, whereas Ostwald ripening was the dominant heterogeneous precipitation process in the chloride system. In the sulfate system, fast growth of the heterogeneously precipitated particles and fast aggregation of the homogeneously precipitated particles led to the formation of particles larger than the detection limit of GISAXS/SAXS. Thus, the sizes of the particles precipitated on quartz surface and in solution were analyzed with AFM and DLS, respectively. This study provides unique qualitative and quantitative information about the location (on quartz surfaces vs in solutions), size, volume, and number evolutions of the newly formed hydrous iron oxide particles in the presence of quartz substrate and ubiquitous anions, which can help in understanding the fate and transport of pollutants in the environment.     

Dynamic scaling properties of TeO2-based gels

Homogeneous, transparent, and mechanically rigid gels have been successfully synthesized in the tellurium isopropoxide-isopropanol-citric acid and water system. The sol to gel transition and the gels microstructure have been studied by using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. For any value of the two key synthesis parameters, which are the citric acid ratio and the alkoxide concentration, very small Te-rich elementary particles, about 1-1.5 nm in radius, form immediately when the water is added, leading to colloidal sols. During gelation, these elementary particles stick progressively together to build up fractal aggregates by a pure hierarchical aggregation process which has been identified as a reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) mechanism. The SAXS curve analysis, based on scaling concepts, shows that the gelling network exhibits a time and length scale invariant structure factor characterized by self-similarity. This self-similarity is also displayed for a wide range of chemical compositions and the gel microstructures only differ in their fractal aggregate size according to the tellurium isopropoxide concentration as well as the citric acid ratio.     

Evolution of composition and fractal structure of hydrous zirconia xerogels during thermal annealing

The mesostructure of amorphous hydrous zirconia xerogels and the products of their heat treatment was studied for the first time using powder X-ray diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The samples prepared at low and high pH values have fundamentally different phase compositions and structures. The high-temperature annealing of hy drous zirconia xerogels is useful for manufacturing materials with controlled surface fractal dimensions.     

Structural evolution of turbostratic carbon: Implications in H2 storage

Structural evolution of turbostratic carbon samples as a function of annealing temperature has been investigated in detail using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. From these studies, it is established that, samples heated at lower temperatures (700 °C and 800 °C) consist carbon particles with rough surfaces forming structure of surface fractal in nature. Whereas the sample heated at higher temperature (900 °C) consists of larger clusters with nearly smooth surface as well as smaller size particles forming dense mass fractal structure. For this sample, solid state NMR and Raman Spectroscopic studies indicate an increased extent of overlapping of 2p_z orbital of carbon atoms due to improved long range ordering and clustering. Hydrogen adsorption studies further substantiated that energetically more homogeneous surface exists for particles of 900 °C heated sample as compared to those of 700 °C and 800 °C heated samples. A highest hydrogen storage capacity of 0.152 H/M has been observed at 123 K and 45 bar pressure for the sample heated at 900 °C.     

Surface functionalization of ZrO2 nanocrystallites for the integration into acrylate nanocomposite films

Surface functionalized zirconia nanoparticles were prepared by covalent grafting of a methacrylate functionalized silane (methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, MPTS) onto the surface of the zirconia nanoparticles (tetragonal and mixed monoclinic/tetragonal phase) obtained by hydrothermal treatment of zirconyl chloride octahydrate. The particles are 70 nm aggregates of nanometric primary grains (4-12 nm) with inter particle porosity. BET measurements show that the specific surface area of the particles after activation at 100 degrees C is between 85 and 204 m2/g depending on the mineralizer used (Sr2+, Ca2+, Mg2+). IR-measurements show that the surface of the particles can be covered with functional groups bound through a variable number of ZrOSi bonds to render them organocompatible. The surface modified particles were dispersed in monomer solution (butanediol monoacrylate, BDMA) and polymerized to form films by adding a cross linking agent (trimethylolpropane triacrylate, Laromer TMPTA) and an UV initiator (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, Lucirin TPO). The received films were characterized with thermogravimetry and UV-vis spectroscopy.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering study on the microstructure evolution of zirconia nanoparticles during calcination

Zirconia nanoparticles have been synthesized from zirconium hydroxide precipitates followed by a supercritical CO₂ extraction. The microstructure evolution of these zirconia nanoparticles during the calcination at the moderate temperature has been investigated. Assisted by the analyses of TEM and XRD, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) study offers possibilities to a comprehensive and quantitative characterization of the structural evolution on the nanometer scales. The as-synthesized zirconia sample exhibits a mass fractal structure constructed by the surface fractal particles. Such a structure can be preserved up to 300 °C. After calcination at 400 °C, considerable structural rearrangement occurs. In the interior of nanoparticles zirconia nanocrystallites emerge. It is the scattering from such zirconia nanoparticles that give rise to the broadened crossover in the ln[J(q)] vs. ln q plot and the scattering peak in the ln[q³J(q)] vs. q² plot. With a further increase in the calcination temperature, the power-law region at large-q in ln J(q) vs. ln q plot expands, and the peak in ln[q³J(q)] vs. q² plot shifts towards lower q values, indicating size increases in both the nanocrystallites and nanoparticles. Besides, the mass fractal structure constructed by zirconia nanoparticles can be largely preserved during the moderate temperature calcination.     

苯乙酮氢转移反应中ZrO2/MCM-41和ZrO2/AC的催化性能对比

采用浸渍法制备了分别以活性炭(AC)和全硅MCM-41介孔分子筛负载的ZrO2催化剂,并对其进行了XRD、氮气吸附-脱附、X射线光电子能谱、差热-热重分析和吡啶吸附原位红外光谱等表征,考察了其在以异丙醇为氢源还原苯乙酮为α-苯乙醇的Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley(MPV)反应中的催化活性,并与水合ZrO2进行对比.研究了载体对催化剂活性的影响.结果表明,ZrO2经MCM-41负载后,与载体发生强相互作用,可能形成Si—O—Zr键,ZrO2在载体表面呈高分散的无定形态,Zr—OH数目显著增加,L酸性增强,并形成B酸中心,使催化剂活性显著高于水合ZrO2;ZrO2负载在AC上后,与载体未发生强相互作用,ZrO2在载体表面未呈高分散状态,增加的Zr—OH数目相对较少,L酸性较弱,未形成B酸中心,催化活性未明显增加,但在较高焙烧温度(400～600℃)下,其仍能保持稳定的催化活性,这可归因于ZrO2/AC中AC孔道疏通及AC石墨层对苯乙酮上苯环的吸附作用,使活性位附近的反应底物浓度显著增大.     

A bidimensional simulation of particle-cluster aggregation with variable active sites particles

 In this work a simple program has been developed which simulates the process of particle– cluster aggregation limited by diffusion. All the simulation have been carried out using 2d square lattices with square “particles” having a variable number of active inter-action sites (from 3 to 8) for each particle in order to analyze the effect of such limitation on the fractal dimension of the aggregates. The fractal dimension of such aggregates was calculated by the so-called “box counting” method. It has been shown that there is no change in the value of the fractal dimension (1.70) as the active site number is increased. Instead it appears that there is an average number of active sites of about 2.3 for all the structures no matter how many active interaction sites the particles have. This appears as an interesting result in connection with the aggregation of particles such as renneted casein micelles, which could present differences in the surface density of active sites. Received: 11 February 1997 Accepted: 8 January 1998     

Early Stages of Crystallization in Gel Derived ZrO2 Precursors

Three different precursor materials giving rise to contrasted nanostructures, xerogels, aerogels and precipitates, are prepared by a sol gel route in the Zrn -propoxide—acetylacetone—water—n-propanol system. Clear homogeneous gels are made by using a proper amount of acetylacetone and water. The gels are dried either by conventional processing (xerogels) or by supercritical evacuation of alcoholic solvent (aerogels). The complexation ratio (R = [acetylacetone]/[Zr(OR)₄]) is the main parameter controlling the size of ZrO₂ primary particles. WhenR = 0 , precipitates are obtained.Xerogels, aerogels and precipitates are characterized and their textures are compared through small angle X-ray scattering measurements. The fractal structure of gels is destroyed by conventional drying and is preserved in aerogels. On the other hand precipitates are described as homogeneous agglomerates of very small primary units.The first crystallization steps are studied by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction experiments. The contribution of crystallite size and microstrain effects are investigated by Rietveld whole pattern fitting. The crystallization of precipitate powders starts at the agglomerate scale with large crystal like distorted lattices.     

锆基色谱填料的制备方法和物理化学性质

氧化锆基质色谱填料适合于碱性物质,特别是生物大分子的分离,因而具有良好的应用前景。它的制备方法对其物理化学性质有很大的影响,从而影响填料的色谱性能。该文对氧化锆微球的制备方法及其物理化学性质进行了综述。分析表明,目前氧化锆基质色谱填料的制备方法存在着难以克服的缺点,要制备理想的锆基色谱填料需要新的思路。     

长程范德华力导向作用下胶体凝聚的计算机模拟

采用计算机模拟方法研究了长程范德华力在胶体凝聚过程中的作用, 发现由于胶粒间的范德华力是长程力, 它对胶粒或团簇运动将产生导向作用. 与不考虑导向作用的扩散控制团簇凝聚(DLCA)模型比较, 这种导向作用不仅加速了胶体的凝聚过程, 而且形成了更致密、分形维数更大的结构体. 研究还发现, 长程范德华力导向作用对胶粒的初始浓度非常敏感, 不论是在凝聚物的结构还是凝聚速率方面, 只有在胶粒初始浓度较低时, 该导向作用效应才明显. 其可能的原因是,在胶粒初始浓度较高时, 由于胶粒布朗运动的平均自由程很短而且位阻效应大, 从而使导向作用效应未能反映出来.     

溶剂热法合成纯单斜和四方晶相氧化锆中的溶剂效应

在以水或甲醇为溶剂, 通过溶剂热反应合成纯单斜相或四方相氧化锆的前期工作基础上, 利用X射线衍射手段研究了硝酸氧锆(ZrO(NO3)2·2H2O)和尿素的溶剂热反应产物——水合ZrO2的物相结构在不同反应温度、反应时间及后处理温度等条件下的变化过程, 提出了不同晶相氧化锆的形成、转变以及稳定的可能机理. 不论在水还是甲醇溶液中, 最初水解得到的水合ZrO2沉淀即晶相氧化锆前体都具有四方对称性结构. 在水热反应条件下, 氧化锆沉淀物发生Ostwald熟化(溶解-沉淀)过程, 四方对称性结构转变为热力学稳定的单斜对称性结构. 而在甲醇热反应条件下, 氧化锆沉淀物不溶于甲醇, 从而Ostwald熟化过程被抑制, 使得四方对称性结构得以保持; 同时, 尿素与水合锆沉淀物反应脱除所含的结晶水, 形成更刚性的四方对称性结构, 这样使得高温热处理(400 ℃)只能促进其晶化过程, 但不改变其对称性. 因而, 不同溶剂对氧化锆沉淀物溶解性的差异以及造成的氧化锆沉淀物与尿素反应性能的差异可能是溶剂热反应合成单一晶相氧化锆的关键因素.     

SAXS study of polymer adsorption on porous ZrO2

The small‐angle X‐ray scattering method (SAXS) has been used for the analysis of polymer adsorption on porous ZrO₂. Particular attention has been paid to the adsorption of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) on the surface of porous ZrO₂. It has been established that the SAXS method determines whether the polymer has penetrated the carrier's pores, and that polymers of low molecular weight create a thin transition layer on the surface of ZrO₂ (understood in the context of a change in the electron density). The creation of this layer is clearly reflected in the run of SAXS curves (Porod's plot). Ruland–Vonk's method has been used to determine the thickness of the transition layer. The results are consistent with those obtained when the viscosity method was used. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detailed model of the aggregation event between two fractal clusters

A model has been developed for describing the aggregation process of two fractal clusters under quiescent conditions. The model uses the approach originally proposed by Smoluchowski for the diffusion-limited aggregation of two spherical particles but accounts for the possibility of interpenetration between the fractal clusters. It is assumed that when a cluster diffuses toward a reference cluster their center-to-center distance can be smaller than the sum of their radii, and their aggregation process is modeled using a diffusion-reaction equation. The reactivity of the clusters is assumed to depend on the reactivity and number of their particles involved in the aggregation event. The model can be applied to evaluate the aggregation rate constant as a function of the prevailing operating conditions by simply changing the value of the particle stability ratio, without any a priori specification of a diffusion-limited cluster aggregation, reaction-limited cluster aggregation, or transition regime. Furthermore, the model allows one to estimate the structure properties of the formed cluster after the aggregation, based on the computed distance between the aggregating clusters in the final cluster.     

SAXS and TEM Investigations on Thermoplastic Nanocomposites Containing Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were used to characterize the morphology of thermoplastic nanocomposites. These materials were based on a thermoplastic matrix of a copolymer of methylmethacrylate (MMA) and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) with spherical 10 nm silica particles as a filler (filler content 2, 5 and 10 vol%, respectively). Depending on the surface modification of the particles, it was possible to control the aggregation tendency of the primary filler particles. With uncoated particles large aggregates about 100 nm in size could be observed by TEM. For nanocomposites containing particles coated with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS), TEM showed that the particles were better dispersed in the polymer matrix only forming aggregates comprised of two or three primary particles. In comparison to the TEM results, the volume weighted particle size distribution calculated from SAXS for the systems with uncoated particles is monomodal and shows particle sizes in the range of primary particles whereas the systems with MPTS coated particles revealed a bimodal size distribution with particle sizes comparable to those measured with TEM. To obtain complete information about the morphology of the nanocomposites above the critical upper limit of detectable scattering vectors (particle sizes >50 nm) SAXS has to be supported by TEM, whereas in the nanosize range below the critical limit both methods exhibit an excellent correspondence.