Expanding the atrane route: Generalized surfactant-free synthesis of mesoporous nanoparticulated xerogels
Abstract A diversity of silica-based and non-silica nanoparticulated mesoporous xerogels have been synthesized from aqueous solution using a surfactant-free strategy, and starting from molecular atrane complexes as precursors. This approach constitutes an extension of the “atrane route” previously described for the surfactant-assisted synthesis of mesoporous materials, and allows us to unify the multiplicity of protocols described for the preparation of conventional xerogels. In fact, we have used exactly the same preparative conditions for obtaining all the compositions reported here. The xerogels synthesized in this way include pure silica (UVM-11), aluminosilicates and titanosilicates (M…
New trends in V–P–O solids
On the basis of the industrial interest of the oxovanadium phosphate catalysts, current research effort in this field is focused mainly on the development of synthetic strategies directed towards obtaining open-framework materials. There is a growing body of work describing preparations using hydrothermal procedures under a diversity of conditions. A great number of new solids, whose nets range from lamellar arrays to micro- and mesostructured organizations, has been prepared in last years. In this context, the applicability of concepts and procedures from the zeolites chemistry to systems involving transition elements is critically analyzed.
Mesoporous iron phosphate/phosphonate hybrid materials
Abstract Relatively high surface area pure mesoporous iron-phosphorus oxide-based derivatives have been synthesized through an S + I − surfactant-assisted cooperative mechanism by means of a one-pot preparative procedure from aqueous solution and starting from iron atrane complexes and phosphoric and phosphonic acids. A soft chemical extraction procedure allows opening the pore system of the parent as-prepared materials by exchanging the surfactant without mesostructure collapse. The nature of the pore wall can be modulated from iron phosphate up to hybrids involving approximately 30% of organophosphorus entities (phosphonates or diphosphonates). X-ray powder diffraction, transmission elect…
Large scale synthesis of nanostructured zirconia-based compounds from freeze-dried precursors
Nanocrystalline zirconia powders have been obtained at the multigram scale by thermal decomposition of precursors resulting from the freeze-drying of aqueous acetic solutions. This technique has equally made possible to synthesize a variety of nanostructured yttria or scandia doped zirconia compositions. SEM images, as well as the analysis of the XRD patterns, show the nanoparticulated character of those solids obtained at low temperature, with typical particle size in the 10–15 nm range when prepared at 673 K. The presence of the monoclinic, the tetragonal or both phases depends on the temperature of the thermal treatment, the doping concentration and the nature of the dopant. In addition,…
Molecular precursors of mesostructured silica materials in the atrane route: A DFT/GIAO/NBO theoretical study
Abstract Quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory have been carried out to investigate two assumed molecular precursors and identified as silatranes (N[OCH2CH2]3Si–OCH2CH2N–(CH2CH2OH)2 and N[OCH2CH2]3Si–OCH2CH2N–(CH2CH2OH)2Na+) which are present in the synthesis of mesoporous silica based material namely “the atrane route”. One of the ways in this synthesis leads to the well-known MCM-41. Additionally, in this work has been also investigated two others molecules such as triethanolamine (TEAH3) and sodatrane which are present in the medium. Gas phase and solution equilibrium geometries of the previous molecules were fully optimized at B3LYP level, modeling solvent effect…
Pore Length Effect on Drug Uptake and Delivery by Mesoporous Silicas
The capability of UVM-7 silicas to work as supports for drug storage and delivery is investigated using ibuprofen as a model. UVM-7 silicas are surfactant-assisted synthesised mesoporous materials displaying a characteristic bimodal pore architecture related to their nanoparticulate texture. Strict control of the drug-charge protocol allows the achievement of high ibuprofen loads, not only because of the availability of intra-nanoparticle mesopores and large textural voids, but also owing to the decrease in pore-blocking effects (with regard to related unimodal mesoporous materials such as MCM-41) achieved through the shortening of the mesopore length. The UVM-7/ibuprofen nanocomposites are…
Enlarged pore size in nanoparticulated bimodal porous silicas: Improving accessibility
Abstract Mass-transfer kinetics seems to be highly favored in siliceous materials constructed from the aggregation of mesoporous nanoparticles. Besides intra-particle mesopores, over the course of the aggregation process an inter-particle (textural) large pore system is generated. Diffusion constrains through the resulting hierarchically structured pore systems mainly depend on the characteristics of the intra-particle mesopores. By using alkanes as swelling agents, we have been able to significantly increase the intra-particle mesopore size in previously well characterized UVM-7 materials. The Winsor-III-like behavior associated with the presence of alkanes in the hydro-alcoholic reaction …
Enhanced manganese content in Mn-MCM-41 mesoporous silicas
The use of triethanolamine containing complexes of Si and Mn as hydrolytic precursors allows the synthesis of doped mesoporous silicas in which the Mn content can be modulated up to reach a minimum value of the Si/Mn molar ratio of 3. This limit value corresponds to a Mn relative content significantly higher than those reported to date for similar materials (Si/Mn = 6). According to XRD, TEM and porosity data, the mesoporous nature typical of the MCM-41 silicas is retained even for the samples having the highest Mn content.
Synthesis of new vanadium–chromium and chromium–molybdenum oxynitrides by direct ammonolysis of freeze-dried precursors
Interstitial vanadium–chromium and chromium–molybdenum oxynitrides in the solid solution series V1 − zCrz(OxNy) and Cr1 − zMoz(OxNy) (z = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) have been obtained by direct ammonolysis of precursors resulting from the freeze-drying of aqueous solutions of the appropriate metal salts. A study of the influence of the preparative variables on the outcomes of this procedure is presented. Compounds in the V1 − zCrz(OxNy) series are prepared as single phases by nitridation at 1073 K, followed by fast cooling of the samples. Compounds in the Cr1 − zMoz(OxNy) series are prepared as nearly single phases by nitridation at different temperatures, optimized for each composi…
Electronic Properties of Mixed-Valence Manganates: The Role of Mn Substitutional Defects
Single-phase perovskites in the solid solution series La0.7+yA0.3-yMn1-xMxO3 (with 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.10; A = Sr2+, M = Cu2+, Zn2+, Sc3+, Cr3+, Co3+, and Ga3+; A = Ba2+, M = Cu2+, Zn2+, and Sc3+) have been prepared via the acetic acid solutions freeze-drying method. This soft procedure makes possible strict stoichiometric control, and the synthetic variables allow one to maintain a constant proportion of Mn4+ (ca. 32%) in the 47 compounds prepared. In this way, the concentration of cationic vacancies at A and B sites is practically negligible in all cases. X-ray powder diffraction patterns corresponding to the 47 compounds have been completely indexed with rhombohedral perovskite cells. The cryst…
One‐Pot Synthesis of a New High‐Aluminium‐Content Super‐Microporous Aluminosilicate
A new super-microporous aluminosilicate having a high aluminium content (Si/Al ca. 1) has been prepared through a surfactant-assisted procedure with the use of a commercially available binary precursor (di-sec-butoxyaluminooxytriethoxysilane) as a single source of both Al and Si. The formation of super-micropores is a result of a significant network shrinkage associated with the thermal elimination of the surfactant. This solid has been studied by X-ray powder diffraction, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and porosimetry. A preliminary analysis of the acidity and the catalytic activity of the super-microporous solid for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx is…
ZnO nanoparticles embedded in UVM-7-like mesoporous silica materials: Synthesis and characterization
Abstract ZnO nanodomains embedded in bimodal mesoporous silica (UVM-7) materials with high Zn content (4≤Si/Zn≤30) have been synthesized by an one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure from a hydro alcoholic medium using a cationic surfactant (CTMABr=cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) as structural directing agent, and starting from molecular atrane complexes of Zn and Si as hydrolytic inorganic precursors. This chemical procedure allows optimizing the dispersion of the ZnO particles in the silica walls. The bimodal mesoporous nature of the final high surface area nano-sized materials is confirmed by XRD, TEM, and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The small intra-particle mesopore system is due …
Synthesis of new molybdenum–tungsten, vanadium–tungsten and vanadium–molybdenum–tungsten oxynitrides from freeze-dried precursors
Abstract Interstitial molybdenum–tungsten, vanadium–tungsten and vanadium–molybdenum–tungsten oxynitrides in the solid solution series Mo1−zWz(OxNy) and V1−zWz(OxNy) (z=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1), and V1−u−zMouWz(OxNy) (u, z=0.2, 0.33, 0.4, 0.6; u+z
Large monolithic silica-based macrocellular foams with trimodal pore system.
Silica-based materials with hierarchical pore systems at three different length scales (small mesopores–large mesopores–macropores) have been prepared through a nanotectonic approach by using mesoporous nanoparticles as building blocks; the resulting materials present a highly accessible foam-like architecture and can be prepared as large monoliths. Huerta Morillo, Lenin Jose, Lenin.Huerta@uv.es ; Latorre Saborit, Julio, Julio.Latorre@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Aurelio, Aurelio.Beltran@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Daniel, Daniel.Beltran@uv.es ; Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, Pedro.Amoros@uv.es
Silica-based macrocellular foam monoliths with hierarchical trimodal pore systems
Abstract Silica-based large monoliths exhibiting a trimodal hierarchical pore system have been successfully prepared through a nanotectonic approach starting from sub-micro/nanometric mesoporous particles (as building blocks), and using a polyurethane foam as macrotemplate. Large trimodal pieces with macrocellular like interconnected macropores in the micrometer range are a mineralized replica of the polyurethane foam. Textural large-mesopores/macropores (in the 20–70 nm range) have their origin in the inter-particle voids. The small intra-particle mesopore system (with pore diameters around 2–3 nm) is due to the supramolecular templating effect of the surfactant.
Polymer solution processing of (Bi, Pb)SrCaCuO
Abstract A simple polymer processing route to the 110 K phase (Bi, Pb) 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10+δ superconductor has been developed. The influence of the polymer to metal starting ratio, as well as the sintering temperature and time on the quality of the resulting superconducting powders has been studied by XRD, a.c. susceptibility and resistivity measurements. Microstructure of ceramic compacts has been studied by SEM, and qualitatively analysed by EDS for compositional homogeneity. The results indicate that the polymer synthesis route described here may offer a good alternative to the conventional solid state preparation methods towards attaining homogeneous 110 K superconductor powder withi…
Effect of disorder produced by cationic vacancies at theBsites on the electronic properties of mixed valence manganites
An alloy series of single-phased polycrystalline ${\mathrm{La}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Na}}_{x}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}} (0l~xl~0.15)$ has been synthesized in order to study the effect of disorder on the electronic properties of mixed valence manganites. The synthetic variables allow one to maintain a constant proportion of ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{4+}$ in the samples $({\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}{/\mathrm{M}\mathrm{n}}^{4+}=2.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2),$ while the similar size of ${\mathrm{La}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ ions results in no appreciable change in the tolerance factor of the perovskite structure throughout the series. In this way, the sodium content x contro…
Structural effects of Co and Cr substitution in LaMnO3 + δ
Series of perovskite oxides with the composition LaMn1 − xMxO3 + δ (M = Cr, Co; 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been synthesized by thermal treatment of precursors obtained by freeze-drying of acetic acid solutions. The oxides have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, and the Mn4+ content and, thus, the oxygen excess, δ, has been determined by redox back-titration. LaMnO3.14 and LaCrO3 phases have the rhombohedral-LaAlO3 and the orthorhombic-GdFeO3 structures, respectively. The LaMn1 − xCrxO3 + δ phases have the rhombohedral structure for x ≤ 0.3, and the orthorhombic structure for x ≥ 0.5. LaCoO3 has, as LaMnO3.14, the rhombohedral structure. However, the LaMn1 − xCoxO3 + δ phases have orthorhombic st…
Fast synthesis of single-phased 110 K bismuth superconductor by freeze-drying of acetic precursors. Kinetic role of calcium and copper oxides
Abstract Although the usefulness of solution procedures to improve the synthesis of bismuth HTSC has been argued, an adequate control of the procedural variables has allowed us to isolate the 110 K phase as the only superconducting phase after such a short sintering time as 22 h. The precursors used have been freeze-dried powders resulting from acetic solutions containing excess Ca and Cu. TGA-DTA and XRD experiments have been performed to follow the subsequent solid-state reaction processes. The initial formation of a mixed bismuth-lead oxoacetate, as intermediate to (Bi 1− y Pb y ) 2 CuO 4 , and the presence of an excess of Ca 2 CuO 3 in the last reaction step are two of the main factors …
Very high titanium content mesoporous silicas
Titanium content in mesoporous titanosilicate catalysts has been modulated up to a minimum Si/Ti value of 1.9 by using complexing agents able to coordinate both Si and Ti atoms and harmonize the reactivity of the resulting precursors avoiding subsequent phase segregation and leading to chemically very homogeneous materials. El Haskouri, Jamal, Jamal.Haskouri@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Aurelio, Aurelio.Beltran@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Daniel, Daniel.Beltran@uv.es ; Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, Pedro.Amoros@uv.es
Fast Solution Precursor Synthesis of the 2223 Phase: the Role of Lead in the Reaction Pathway
ABSTRACTValuable mechanistic information, about the reaction pathway in the formation of the 2223 phase, has been obtained by the use of a solution synthesis route. The presence of lead in the starting mixture has remarkable effects on the nature and stability of the different intermediates: i) the grain size and morphology of Bi2CuO4 is severely changed, ii) calcium carbonate is partially decomposed to yield the calcium plumbate, iii) the 2201 phase results stabilized against the formation of the collapsed phase Bi17Sr16Cu7O49-δ, iv) the melting point of the intermediate 2212 is lowered by about 10 °C. All these effects, due to lead substitution, contribute to promote the formation of the …
Soft hydrothermal synthesis of new microporous materials based on phosphate-like species
ABSTRACTFactors controlling hydrothermal synthetic procedures are not well understood. A good knowledge of the solution chemistry of precursor species is the best reference for the design of rational procedures. Examples of the predictive character of simple models in order to rationalize complex syntheses are discussed in detail.
Improving epoxide production using Ti-UVM-7 porous nanosized catalysts
Nanosized Ti-UVM-7 materials with a hierarchical system of pores at two different length scales have been prepared through a one-pot procedure by using a simple template agent; the catalytic activity and selectivity of the resulting materials in bulky olefin epoxidation by organic peroxides are the highest reported to date.
Synthetic Pathways for New Tubular Transition Metal Hydroxo- and Fluoro-Selenites: Crystal Structures ofM12(X)2(SeO3)8(OH)6(M=Co2+,Ni2+;X= OH−)
The dumortierite-family structuresM12X2(SeO3)8(OH)6(M= Co2+and Ni2+;X= OH−and F−) have been synthesized. The crystal structures of the hydroxo-derivatives have been refined from X?ray powder diffraction data in the space groupP63mc(Z= 1) witha= 12.887(3) A andc= 4.981(4) A (M= Co2+,X= OH−or F−) anda= 12.704(5) A andc= 4.925(6) A (M= Ni2+,X= OH−or F−). Application of the Partial Charge Transference Model allows the understanding of the selenite derivatives crystal chemistry.
Mesoporous aluminum phosphite
Abstract High surface area pure mesoporous aluminum-phosphorus oxide-based derivatives have been synthesized through an S+I− surfactant-assisted cooperative mechanism by means of a one-pot preparative procedure from aqueous solution and starting from aluminum atrane complexes and phosphoric and/or phosphorous acids. A soft chemical extraction procedure allows opening the pore system of the parent as-prepared materials by exchanging the surfactant without mesostructure collapse. The nature of the pore wall can be modulated from mesoporous aluminum phosphate (ALPO) up to total incorporation of phosphite entities (mesoporous aluminum phosphite), which results in a gradual evolution of the acid…
Nanoparticulated Silicas with Bimodal Porosity: Chemical Control of the Pore Sizes
Nanoparticulated bimodal porous silicas (NBSs) with pore systems structured at two length scales (meso- and large-meso-/macropores) have been prepared through a one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure by using a simple template agent and starting from silicon atrane complexes as hydrolytic inorganic precursors. The final bulk materials are constructed by an aggregation of pseudospherical mesoporous primary nanoparticles process, over the course of which the interparticle (textural) large pore system is generated. A fine-tuning of the procedural variables allows not only an adjustment of the processes of nucleation and growth of the primary nanoparticles but also a modulation of their subseque…
Transport and Diamagnetic Properties of 2:2:1:2 and 2:2:2:3 (Bi-Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O Superconducting Materials
AbstractBismuth superconducting oriented fibers of the compositions 2:2:1:2: and 2:2:2:3 have been grown by the Laser Floating Zone (LFZ) method. Growth conditions have been optimized in order to improve the superconducting properties. The 108 K onset in susceptibility measurements (associated to the 2:2:2:3 phase) only appears well defined when starting from Sr-defective precursors.
Freeze-dried precursor-based synthesis of new polymetallic oxynitrides, V1−u−zCruMoz(OxNy),V1−u−zCruWz(OxNy), Cr1−u−zMouWz(OxNy) (u, z=0.2, 0.33, 0.4, 0.6, u+z<1), and VzCrzMozWz(OxNy) (z=0.25)
Abstract Interstitial polymetallic oxynitrides in the solid solution series V 1− u − z Cr u Mo z (O x N y ), V 1− u − z Cr u W z (O x N y ) and Cr 1− u − z Mo u W z (O x N y ) ( u , z = 0.2, 0.33, 0.4, 0.6, u + z z Cr z Mo z W z (O x N y ) ( z = 0.25) composition, can be obtained by ammonolysis of precursors resulting from the freeze-drying of aqueous solutions of the simple metal salts NH 4 VO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 CrO 4 , (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 ·4H 2 O and (NH 4 ) 6 W 12 O 39 ·18H 2 O. A study of the influence of the preparative variables on the outcomes of this procedure is presented. Compounds in the V 1− u − z Cr u Mo z (O x N y ) series have been prepared as single phases by direct ammonolys…
Interface charge density matching as driving force for new mesostructured oxovanadium phosphates with hexagonal structure, [CTA]xVOPO4·zH2O
Hexagonal mesostructured mixed-valence oxovanadium phosphates [CTA]xVOPO4·zH2O, in short ICMUV-2, have been synthesized through a S+I- cooperative mechanism using cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium, CTAB) rodlike micelles as a template. On the lines of the hypothesis that the driving force leading to the formation of mesostructured solids is the charge density matching at the interface between the supramolecular−organic and supramolecular−inorganic moieties, the self-assembling process between CTA+ micelles and VOPO4q- planar anions can be thought of as consequence of the adequate adjustment of the metal mean oxidation state. X-ray powder diffraction and TEM techniques show that th…
Enhanced surface area in thermally stable pure mesoporous TiO2
Abstract We describe here for the first time the surfactant-assisted synthesis of thermally stable mesoporous pure TiO 2 having a high surface area. Our synthetic approach to the chemistry of this system is based on the equilibrium between the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of the inorganic species and the organic–inorganic self-assembling processes. The use of titanatrane complexes helps to retard the hydrolysis and condensation reactions, thus allowing us to overcome the difficulties in preparing titanium dioxide mesoporous materials starting from highly reactive Ti-alkoxides. The mesoporous material has been characterized by TEM, XRD and N 2 adsorption–desorption isotherms and dis…
The First Pure Mesoporous Aluminium Phosphonates and Diphosphonates − New Hybrid Porous Materials
Organophosphorus moieties have been incorporated into mesoporous ALPOs through a one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure leading, for the first time, to periodic mesoporous aluminium phosphonates and diphosphonates. The number of organic groups on the surface or in the network can be modulated continuously up to the maximum incorporation level of the respective organophosphorus entities (100 %). (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
New tubular transition metal oxoanionic derivatives: a systematic approach to condensed phases of the dumortierite family
Abstract An unified synthetic approach has allowed us to isolate a wide set of highly condensed oxoanionic derivatives of transition metals by using solution chemistry procedures. New phases are described [Ni 12+ x H 6−2 x (AsO 4 ) 8 (OH) 6 . Ni 6 (SeO 3 ) 4 (OH) 4 ], and the preparation of other already known [Ni 12+ x H 6−2 x (PO 4 ) 8 (OH) 6 , Ni 3 Te 2 O 6 (OH) 2 ] is significantly simplifi ed. The structure of these derivatives, as well as that of other phases such as M 11 (HPO 3 ) 8 (OH) 6 (M=Zn, Co, Ni), previously characterized by us, can be related to that of the dumortierite mineral. The main features of the tubular channels that characterize this structure and the possibility to …
Nanostructured Alumina from Freeze-Dried Precursors
Nanocrystalline alumina has been obtained on the 100 g scale by thermal decomposition of precursors resulting from the freeze-drying of aqueous solutions of different aluminum-containing products, namely aluminum acetate and aluminum L-lactate. Samples prepared at different temperatures (from 873 to 1573 K in steps of 100 K) were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and surface area measurements. In the acetate case, the transformation sequence involves the formation of θ-Al 2 O 3 as an intermediate phase between γ-Al 2 O 3 and α-Al 2 O 3 , whereas this θ phase is not observed in the lactate case. TEM…
Layered-Expanded Mesostructured Silicas: Generalized Synthesis and Functionalization
Mesostructured layered silicas have been prepared through a surfactant-assisted procedure using neutral alkylamines as templates and starting from atrane complexes as hydrolytic inorganic precursors. By adjusting the synthetic parameters, this kinetically controlled reproducible one-pot method allows for obtaining both pure and functionalized (inorganic or organically) lamellar silica frameworks. These are easily deconstructed and built up again, which provides a simple way for expanding the interlamellar space. The materials present high dispersibility, which results in stable colloidal suspensions.
LFZ growth of (Bi, Pb)–Sr–Ca–Cu–O superconducting fibers
Powder x-ray diffraction, d.c. and a.c. susceptibilities, and SEM have been used to study (Bi1−xPbx)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10−δ fibers grown by the Laser Floating Zone method. The well-oriented, long-grained superconductor fiber properties are shown to be highly dependent on the partial pressure of oxygen in the growth atmosphere, as well as on fiber pulling rate. Slowly grown fibers contain initially the 2212 (80 K) phase; the 2223 (110 K) phase also appears upon annealing in air. Faster growth rates result in fibers that contain a mixture of the 2212 and 2201 phases and, in this case, long annealing procedures are necessary to observe the 2223 phase.
A new approach to the synthesis of intermetallic compounds: mild synthesis of submicrometric CoxMy (M = Mo, W; x∶y = 3∶1 and 7∶6) particles by direct reduction of freeze-dried precursors
A simple processing route to cobalt–molybdenum and cobalt–tungsten intermetallics (CoxMy, where M = Mo and W, and x∶y = 3∶1 and 7∶6) has been developed, on the basis of the use of precursors resulting from freeze-drying of aqueous solutions of the appropriate common metal salts. The influence of the preparative variables on the outcomes of this procedure is examined. These compounds are prepared as single phases by thermal reduction of amorphous freeze-dried powders under a hydrogen–argon atmosphere (8% H2), followed by slow cooling of the samples. The materials have been characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, metal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry under an ox…
Surfactant-Assisted Synthesis of Mesoporous Alumina Showing Continuously Adjustable Pore Sizes
Porous materials displaying tailor-made pore sizes and shapes are particularly interesting in a great variety of real and potential applications where molecular recognition is needed, such as shape-selective catalysis, molecular sieving, and selective adsorption. Classically, apart from silica, materials most commonly used for catalysis and catalyst supports have been those based on high surface aluminas, owing to their thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability and their low cost. Earlier aluminas with high surface areas (~500 m/g) had been prepared using structure-directing agents. However, they were X-ray amorphous materials and their porosity was purely textural, characterized by wide …
Pd2Mo3N: a new molybdenum bimetallic interstitial nitride
The molybdenum bimetallic nitride Pd2Mo3N has been synthesized by ammonolysis of the stoichiometric mixture of low sized pure oxide crystallites (2PdO/3MoO3) as resulting from low temperature thermal decomposition of precursor powders obtained by freeze-drying of aqueous solutions of the appropriate metal salts. This compound has been characterized by elemental analysis, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (field emision) and thermogravimetry under oxygen atmosphere. Pd2Mo3N crystallizes in the cubic space group P4132 (no. 213) (Pd2Mo3N, a = 6.81770(3) A, Z = 4), and presents the unusual filled β-manganese structure. It is stable under oxyge…
Towards the Loewenstein limit (Si/Al = 1) in thermally stable mesoporous aluminosilicates
The use of complexing agents to generate polynuclear precursor species containing both Al and Si allows the synthesis of thermally stable mesoporous aluminosilicates including solely tetrahedrally coordinated aluminium, in which the Si/Al ratio can be modulated down to a minimum Si/Al value of 1.06(4). Cabrera Medina, Saul, Saul.Cabrera@uv.es ; El Haskouri, Jamal, Jamal.Haskouri@uv.es ; Latorre Saborit, Julio, Julio.Latorre@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Aurelio, Aurelio.Beltran@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Daniel, Daniel.Beltran@uv.es ; Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, Pedro.Amoros@uv.es
Stable anchoring of dispersed gold nanoparticles on hierarchic porous silica-based materials
The nanometric organization of MOx (M = Co, Zn, Ni) domains partially embedded inside the mesoporous silica walls but accessible to the pore voids, which is achieved through a simple one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure, define optimal anchors for the nucleation and growth of gold nanoparticles, which in turn favours an exceptional thermal stability for the final Au-supported materials. As silica support we have selected a UVM-7 silica having a highly accessible architecture defined by two hierarchic pore systems. The combination of nanometric pore length, tortuous mesopores and MOx inorganic anchors favours the stability of the final Au/CoOx-UVM-7 nanocomposites.
Silica-based powders and monoliths with bimodal pore systemsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: UV–Vis spectrum of sample 3. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b1/b110883b/
Porous pure and doped silicas with pore sizes at two length scales (meso/macroporous) have been prepared and shaped both as powders and monoliths through a one-pot surfactant assisted procedure by using a simple template agent and starting from atrane complexes as inorganic precursors.
High content and dispersion of Gd in bimodal porous silica: T2 contrast agents under ultra-high magnetic fields
Silica-based UVM-7-type bimodal mesoporous materials with high gadolinium content (∞ ≥ Si/Gd ≥ 13) have been synthesized through a one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure from hydroalcoholic solution using a cationic surfactant as template, and starting from atrane complexes of Gd and Si as inorganic precursors. The novel synthetic pathway developed in the study preserves the UVM-7-type architecture while optimizing the dispersion of the Gd-guest species at the nanoscale and even at atomic level. It has been determined that the number of Gd atoms forming clusters is always less than 10. The behaviour under exposure to ultra-high magnetic fields reveals a significant increase in the transversa…
High‐Zirconium‐Content Nano‐Sized Bimodal Mesoporous Silicas
Silica-based nanoparticulated bimodal mesoporous materials with high Zr content (43 ≥ Si/Zr ≥ 4) have been synthesized by a one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure from a hydroalcoholic medium using a cationic surfactant (CTMABr = cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) as structure-directing agent, and starting from molecular atrane complexes of Zr and Si as hydrolytic inorganic precursors. This preparative technique allows optimization of the dispersion of the Zr guest species in the silica walls. The bimodal mesoporous nature of the final high surface area nano-sized materials is confirmed by XRD, TEM, and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The small intraparticle mesopore system (with pore sizes…
Synthesis and characterization of mono- and binuclear copper(II) complexes with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) and carboxylates: X-ray crystal structure of [Cu(terpy)(OOCH)(OH2)](ClO4) complex
Abstract Perchlorate and hexafluorophosphate salts of monomeric [Cu(terpy)(OOCH)(OH2)]+ and dimeric [Cu(terpy)(OOCR)]22+ cations (terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, R = CH3 or C2H5) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, electronic and ESR spectra, and analytical data. Spectroscopic results indicate a five-coordinate, close-to-square pyramidal geometry around the copper(II) ion. The half-field absorption in the ΔMs = 2 region of powdered X-band ESR spectra has been observed for the dimeric species. The crystal structure of [Cu(terpy)(OOCH)(OH2)](ClO4) has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The compound crystallizes in the space group P21/c with unit-cell dimensions: a = 7.34…
Crystal structure and spectroscopic study of [Cu(BPCA)(OH2)(O2CCH3)·H2O complex; BPC = N-2-pyridinylcarbonyl-2-pyridinecarboximidate anion
Abstract The crystal and molecular structure of the [Cu(BPCA)(OH2)(O 2CCH3]·H2O complex (BPCA = N-2-pyridinylcarbonyl-2-pyridinecarboximidate anion) has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P l with two formula units in a cell of dimensions: a = 7.416(2), b = 8.632(4), c = 13.034(3) A, α = 74.55(3), β = 84.84(3), γ = 81.04(5)°. Least-squares refinement of 2534 reflections with I > 2.5σ(I) and 218 parameters gave a final R = 0.047 and Rw = 0.049. The structure consists of discrete [Cu(BPCA)(OH2)(O2CCH3)] neutral units linked through hydrogen bonding. The coordination geometry around copper ions can be described as tetragonal square pyrami…
Scale-up low-cost synthesis of bimodal mesoporous silicas
Porous pure and doped silicas with pore sizes at two length scales (meso/macroporous) have been prepared through a large scale one-pot surfactant assisted reproducible procedure by using a simple template agent and starting from non-expensive sodium silicate as silicon source. Together with the relative low-cost of the reagents we have used, the simplicity of this method, which moreover is scalable and provides high yields, could be a strong argument for considering its suitability for the production of bimodal porous silicas. Additionally, we present a simple chemical scheme that allows directing the synthesis towards different related materials including both bimodal nanoparticulated meso…
One‐Pot Synthesis of Superparamagnetic CoO‐MCM‐41 Nanocomposites with Uniform and Highly Dispersed Magnetic Nanoclusters
Superparamagnetic CoO-MCM-41 mesoporous nanocomposites, with variable cobalt amounts, in the form of well-dispersed CoO-like clusters, were prepared in a large compositional range by a one-step reproducible procedure employing co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of the inorganic precursors in a water/triethanolamine medium. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Theoretical study of oligomeric alumatranes present in the chemistry of materials from micro to mesoporous molecular sieves and alumina composites
Quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory have been carried out to investigate molecular precursors based on alumatranes which are one of the components with silatranes for the preparation of mesoporous aluminosilicate materials. In the same way, some oligomeric alumatranes of this study take part in chemical syntheses related to materials such as zeolites and alumina composite. Gas phase and solution equilibrium geometries of the alumatrane precursors were fully optimized at B3LYP level, modeling solvent effects using a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF). From these optimized geometries, calculations of the 1 H, 13 C and 27 Al NMR chemical shifts at GIAO/B3LYP/6-31G(…
Bases for the synthesis of nanoparticulated silicas with bimodal hierarchical porosity
Porous silicas with pore sizes at two length scales (meso and large meso/macroporous) have been prepared through a one-pot surfactant assisted procedure by using a simple template agent and starting from silicon atrane complexes as hydrolytic inorganic precursors. The special organization of these bimodal porous silicas can be related to the nanometric character of their constituent mesoporous particles. Whereas the small intra-particle mesopore system is generated by the templating effect of the surfactant, the large pore system is defined by inter-particle voids. We have studied the effect of different procedural parameters on the small pore system and also on the nucleation and growth of…
Novel Phases in the V-P-O Catalytic System from Oxovanadium Hydrogenphosphate Precursors
ABSTRACTSeveral biphasic VOP04/(VO)2P2O7 redox partners seem to be active in the catalytic cycles involved in the mild oxidation of simple hydrocarbons to maleic anhydride. The present X-ray time resolved thermal-diffractometric study reveals the existence of a new anhydrous variety of the oxidized form, ω-VOPO4, which may appear as an intermediate in the formation of the well known β-VOPO4. This new phase only remains well crystallized at relatively high temperatures, and when it is allowed to cool down in wet air VOPO4·2H2O results. In turn, another well defined phase, VOPO4·1.58H2O, can be recognized in the course of the hydration process.
Precursor-based synthetic pathways to nanometer NdNiO3−x particles
Abstract The oxygen deficient neodymium nickel perovskite, NdNiO3−x, has been obtained by different low temperature-low oxygen pressure synthetic procedures. Besides a solid-matrix based route, both ordered and disordered chemical-precursors have been used as starting products. X-ray powder diffraction shows that the structure of this defective perovskite is orthorhombic. The study of the grain morphology of the products as resulting from the different synthetic procedures indicates that the main parameter determining the average particle size, which is in the nanometer range, is the maximum temperature achieved in the synthesis. Resistivity and DSC measurements show the existence of a meta…
A new improved synthesis of the 110 K bismuth superconducting phase: freeze-drying of acetic solutions
Abstract Metastability has greatly hindered the separated synthesis of the high-temperature superconducting phases represented as (Bi1−x, Pbx)2Sr2Can−1CunO4 + 2n (n = 2, 2-2-1-2, Tc≈80 K, and n = 3, 2-2-2-3, Tc≈110 K). By careful control of the synthetic variables, it becomes possible to obtain the 110 K phase as the only superconducting one through processing of freeze-dried acetic solutions. This technique leads to homogeneously sized (5–10 μm) micaceous platelets of the superconducting material.
Nanostructured Solids from Freeze-Dried Precursors: Multigram Scale Synthesis of TiO2 -Based Powders
Nanocrystalline TiO2 and Ti1−xVxO2 (x = 0.01) powders have been prepared by thermal decomposition, in air, of amorphous precursors resulting from the freeze-drying of appropriate solutions. In addition, TiO2−xNy (anatase and rutile) and TiOxNy (rock-salt) have been prepared by thermal treatment in ammonia of a crystalline precursor (TiO2 obtained at 673 K). TEM and SEM images, as well as the analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, show the nanoparticulated character of those solids obtained at low temperatures, with typical particle sizes in the 10–20 nm range when prepared at 673 K. The UV–Vis results indicate both the insertion of V in the anatase lattice and the feasibility of …
X-ray powder diffraction data for some transition metal phosphites and hypophosphites
A set of nine transition metal oxophosphorous compounds, consisting of four hypophosphites and five phosphites has been synthesized and studied using X-ray powder diffraction techniques. The compounds are α-Mn(H2PO2)2·H2O, Co(H2PO2)2 ·0.53H2O, MCl(H2PO2)2·H2O (M = Co2+, Ni2+), M2(HPO3)2·2H2O (M = Co2+, Ni2+), and M11 (HPO3)8(OH)6 (M = Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+). Unit cells and X-ray powder patterns are reported.
Control of the pore wall thickness and thermal stability in low-cost bimodal porous silicas
Abstract A new hierarchical bimodal mesoporous silica, labelled as UVM-12 (acronym of University of Valencia Materials), has been prepared by using a solution of sodium silicate as low-cost silicon source. The final self-assembling between cationic micelles of CTAB and anionic inorganic Si-based oligomers occurs in a homogeneous aqueous medium. The reaction is carried out from low-sized building blocks through a bottom-up approach. The UVM-12 solids combine two mesopore systems according to N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, what is corroborated by TEM micrographs and XRD patterns. This material has been inorganically modified by incorporation of Al or Ti (M-UVM-12, M = Al, Ti) without alt…
Biomimetic chitosan-mediated synthesis in heterogeneous phase of bulk and mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Both bulk and mesoporous silica nanoparticles can be obtained in the form of granular aggregates using chitosan flakes as additive under very soft biomimetic reaction conditions. Puchol Estors, Victoria, Victoria.Puchol@uv.es ; El Haskouri, Jamal, Jamal.Haskouri@uv.es ; Latorre Saborit, Julio, Julio.Latorre@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Aurelio, Aurelio.Beltran@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Daniel, Daniel.Beltran@uv.es ; Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, Pedro.Amoros@uv.es
The Influence of Morphological Aspects in the Reaction Pathway and Superconductive Properties of Bi2223-Ca2CuO3 Ceramic Composites
ABSTRACTA variation of the solid-state matrix technique has been developed as a procedure for the preparation of 2223 bismuth superconducting phases [(Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca1-nCunO4+2n, n=3]. The adequate processing of samples of nominal compositions 2223+x 0021, obtained both by this procedure and by the polymer matrix method, has allowed the modification of the microstructure of the calcium copper excess, with no noticeable change in that of the 2223 grains. The study of the phase evolution in the processing of the samples has shown that the formation rate of the 2223 phase is faster when the particle size of the calcium cuprate is smaller. A dependence of the intergranular superconducting properti…
Tuning the pore size from micro- to meso-porous in thermally stable aluminophosphates
Thermally stable porous aluminophosphates (ICMUV-3) with P/Al molar ratios in the range 0.15 <= P/Al <= 0.75 and showing continuously adjustable pore sizes from 13 to 37 Å have been prepared through a surfactant-assisted procedure without changing the surfactant length and/or addition of organic expansors. Cabrera Medina, Saul, Saul.Cabrera@uv.es ; El Haskouri, Jamal, Jamal.Haskouri@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Aurelio, Aurelio.Beltran@uv.es ; Beltran Porter, Daniel, Daniel.Beltran@uv.es ; Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, Pedro.Amoros@uv.es
Supramolecular capping-ligand effect of lamellar silica mesostructures for the one-pot synthesis of highly dispersed ZnO nanoparticles
ZnO?SiO2 lamellar nanocomposites with high zinc content (5?Si/Zn?50) have been synthesized through a one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure from aqueous solution and starting from molecular atrane complexes of Zn and Si as inorganic hydrolytic precursors. This approach allows optimization of the dispersion of the ZnO nanodomains in the silica sheets. The nature of the layered silica materials has been confirmed by x-ray diffraction. Spectroscopic (ultraviolet?visible and photoluminescence) study of these layered silica materials shows that, regardless of the Si/Zn ratio, Zn atoms are organized in well-dispersed, uniform ZnO nanodomains (about 1.2?nm) partially embedded within the silica shee…
Polymer-matrix route to (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ: The role of Ca2CuO3☆
Abstract The use of polyethylenimine as active matrix agent has provided a fast synthesis method for (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ, starting from aqueous acetic solutions combined with careful control of the procedural variables. The 110 K phase is obtained as the only superconducting phase after sintering in air during 42 h at 860°C. This technique yields homogeneously sized, large (ca. 20 μm) platelets of the superconducting material. The presence of an excess of calcium and copper over the stoichiometric requirements accelerates the formation of the superconducting phase. This excess, which appears in the resulting material as Ca2CuO3, influences the superconducting properties, other than Tc, …
Submicrometer CaCuO2 and Ca2CuO3 particles from bimetallic formate precursors
Abstract CaCuO2 and Ca2CuO3 are readily obtained by thermal decomposition of two new calcium and copper formates, CaCu(HCOO)4 and Ca2Cu(HCOO)6. These chemical-precursor based syntheses, while overcoming problems related to the stoichiometry of the final products, involve very short diffusion path lengths. This, in turn, results in soft treatments yielding pure phases constituted by submicrometer (≈0.4 μm) homogeneous particles.
Generalised syntheses of ordered mesoporous oxides: the atrane route
Abstract A new simple and versatile technique to obtain mesoporous oxides is presented. While implying surfactant-assisted formation of mesostructured intermediates, the original chemical contribution of this approach lies in the use of atrane complexes as precursors. Without prejudice to their inherent unstability in aqueous solution, the atranes show a marked inertness towards hydrolysis. Bringing kinetic factors into play, it becomes possible to control the processes involved in the formation of the surfactant–inorganic phase composite micelles, which constitute the elemental building blocks of the mesostructures. Independent of the starting compositional complexity, both the mesostructu…
Synthesis of a new mesostructured lamellar oxovanadium phosphate assembled through an S+X-I0 Mechanism
A new lamellar mesostructured oxovanadium(V) phosphate, (DDAH)0.9(Cl)0.9VOPO4·1.5H2O (DDA = dodecylamine), has been synthesized through a S+X-I0 cooperative mechanism using protonated dodecylamine ...
Crystal structure of a new polytype in the V–P–O system: is ω-VOPO4 a dynamically stabilised metastable network?
Abstract ω-VOPO 4 has been prepared by thermal decomposition of different oxovanadium hydrogen phosphates, namely VO(HPO 4 ) n H 2 O ( n =2( α ), 2(β) and 4) and β-NH 4 (VO 2 )(HPO 4 ). The ω-VOPO 4 phase only remains well crystallised at relatively high temperatures. Its crystal structure has been determined ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data collected at 475°C. The cell is tetragonal (space group P4 2 /mmc) with a =4.8552(3) A and c =8.4301(6) A. Starting positional parameters were obtained by direct methods, and the structure was refined using Rietveld profile refinement principles. Disorder of two oxygen sublattices is observed. To rationalise some features of the crystal stru…
Atrane complexes chemistry as a tool for obtaining trimodal UVM-7-like porous silica
[EN] The use of atrane complexes as hydrolytic precursors enables the homogeneous incorporation of manganese (25Si/Mn48) throughout the porous walls of the nanoparticles of a surfactant-templated bimodal mesoporous silica (UVM-7). The subsequent leaching of the manganese nanodomains allows adding controlled microporosity to the host silica framework. The resulting final silica material presents three pore systems structured at different length scales: interparticle textural-type macroporosity (ca. 43.2nm), ordered intraparticle mesoporosity (ca. 2.63nm; after template removal), and well-dispersed microporosity (< 2nm; as consequence of the lixiviation of the Mn-rich domains). The good dispe…
Mesosynthesis of ZnO-SiO(2) porous nanocomposites with low-defect ZnO nanometric domains.
Silica-based ZnO-MCM-41 mesoporous nanocomposites with high Zn content (5≤Si/Zn≤50) have been synthesized by a one-pot surfactant-assisted procedure from aqueous solution using a cationic surfactant (CTMABr = cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) as structure-directing agent, and starting from molecular atrane complexes as inorganic hydrolytic precursors. This preparative technique allows optimization of the dispersion of the ZnO nanodomains in the silica walls. The mesoporous nature of the final materials is confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms. The ZnO-MCM-41 materials show unimodal pore size distributions without …
An algorithm based in Ewald's method to calculate lattice sums in the framework of crystal field theory
A simple procedure to help calculate the electrostatic potential at any point inside an ionic crystal is proposed and tested. The rationale for the mathematical algorithm to calculate lattice sums is based on Ewald's technique. The method is discussed with regard to the dimensions and shape of the crystal lattice. Electrostatic potential for NaCl and MgO type structures are obtained and compared with the values calculated by means of Ewald's method
Generalized “one-pot” preparative strategy to obtain highly functionalized silica-based mesoporous spherical particles
In this work we present a synthesis strategy for the preparation of Stöber-type mesoporous particles functionalized with inorganic species. The procedure is based on a combination of the Atrane and the Stöber methods. Both as a source of silicon and of the incorporated heteroelements (Fe, Zn, Al, Ti) the corresponding atrane complexes are used as hydrolytic reagents. These complexes are easily formed by reaction with triethanolamine. Mesoporosity is achieved using surfactant micelles as templates. Obtaining uniform spherical particles is achieved by optimizing the amount of water-ethanol in the reaction medium. The particle sizes have been modulated by controlling simple parameters such as …
Low-Cost Synthesis of Bimodal Mesoporous Silica-Based Materials by Pseudomorphic Transformation.
Nanoparticulate bimodal porous silica-based materials have been prepared through a surfactant-assisted procedure by using a simple template and starting from inexpensive sodium silicate as silicon source. Different procedural variables, such as pH or the nature and concentration of the surfactant, have been explored to optimize the preparative protocol, which allows, in turn, improved understanding of the formation process. The final bulk materials (called UVM-10 or M-UVM-10) are formed by pseudomorphic transformation of fresh silica-based xerogels under mild basic conditions. The UVM-10 architecture is constructed from small mesoporous nanoparticles, the aggregation of which generates a di…
Superexchange pathways in oxovanadium(IV) phosphates
Abstract Oxovanadium(IV) phosphates show a diversity of magnetic behaviours that cannot be deduced from their respective structural features only. In part, this is due to the involvement of phosphate bridges in the spin transfer between V(IV) centres, and 31P solid state nuclear magnetic resonance becomes a key tool in determining the exchange mechanisms. The magnetic properties of a wide set of vanadium(IV) containing derivatives can be explained by realizing that a good overlap of the magnetic orbits may be achieved through paths involving phosphorus d orbitals.