Search results for "SILICA"

EPR study of Ce3+ luminescent centers in the Y2SiO5 single crystalline films

2017

Abstract The work reports results of EPR investigation of the Ce3+ incorporation in the Y2SiO5 and (Y,La)2SiO5 single crystalline films (SCFs), grown by liquid phase epitaxy method. The Ce3+ content determined from EPR spectra varied between 0.49 and 0.65 at. % in Y2SiO5 SCFs and strongly increased up to 1.9 at. % in (Y,La)2SiO5 SCF, suggesting a positive role of the La dopant in the incorporation of the Ce3+ ions into Y2SiO5 host. The EPR study showed the presence of only one type of Ce3+ centers (Ce1) corresponding to the localization of Ce3+ ions in the seven–fold coordinated positions of the Y2SiO5 host. No Ce2 center spectra (six-fold coordinated Ce3+ positions) were detected in films …

Visible luminescence peculiar to sintered silica nanoparticles: Spectral and decay properties

2015

We report that the sintering at 1000 degrees C of silica nanoparticles (an average diameter of 14 nm) produces a transparent sample that exhibits a bright visible emission under UV excitation. The use of time resolved luminescence spectroscopy and a tunable laser source allows us to single out three contributions centered at 1.96 eV, 2.41 eV and 3.43 eV. The excitation spectra of these emissions evidence bell shaped bands consistent with transitions between localized defects' states. For each emission we study the intensity and the lifetime in the temperature range from 300 K down to 10 K, thus evidencing the competition between radiative and non-radiative processes in the optical cycle of …

Structural model of gelation processes of a sodium silicate sol destabilized by calcium ions: combination of SAXS and rheological measurements

2005

This study deals with the physico-chemical processes involved in the formation of basic fractal silica gels derived from a sodium silicate sol destabilized by calcium ions. Using small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic rheological measurements, structural and viscoelastic properties have been investigated in situ during aggregation and gelation processes. The experimental results lead to a consistent model that describes the structural features and aggregation mechanisms involved in the formation of these gels.

Multistep Crystallization Pathways in the Ambient‐Temperature Synthesis of a New Alkali‐Activated Binder

2021

Crystallization and microstructural development of nickel-containing aluminosilicate glasses with cordierite stoichiometry

2001

Abstract The crystallization behaviour of two glasses with chemical compositions MAl2O4/SiO2=1/2.5, being MNi and equimolar mixtures of Mg and Ni, was investigated. Glasses were prepared by cooling samples melted at 1650 °C. During thermal treatment over the range of temperature up to 1200 °C both glasses were first crystallized to form a β-quartz solid solution, then transformed to α-cordierite or spinel depending on the amount of nickel. The temperatures of both the crystallization of β-quartz solid solution and its further transformation were also dependent on the nominal amount of nickel. Lower temperatures were found for glasses with a large amount of nickel. UV–Vis diffuse reflectanc…

Slow dynamics in ion-conducting sodium silicate melts: Simulation and mode-coupling theory

2005

A combination of molecular-dynamics (MD) computer simulation and mode-coupling theory (MCT) is used to elucidate the structure-dynamics relation in sodium-silicate melts (NSx) of varying sodium concentration. Using only the partial static structure factors from the MD as an input, MCT reproduces the large separation in relaxation time scales of the sodium and the silicon/oxygen components. This confirms the idea of sodium diffusion channels which are reflected by a prepeak in the static structure factors around 0.95 A^-1, and shows that it is possible to explain the fast sodium-ion dynamics peculiar to these mixtures using a microscopic theory.

Graphene‐SiO2 Interaction from Composites to Doping

2019

An overview of the interaction between monolayer graphene and SiO2 dielectric substrate is reported focusing on the effect this latter has on doping and strain induced by thermal treatments in controlled atmosphere. The disentanglement of strain and doping is highlighted and the comparison with another dielectric substrate of Al2O3 evidences the critical role that the substrate has in the electronic properties of graphene. The reported results pave the way for microelectronic devices based on graphene on dielectrics and for Fermi level tuning in composites of graphene and nanoparticles.

Nimesulide adsorbed on silica aerogel using supercritical carbon dioxide

2012

Silica aerogel (SA) was loaded with nimesulide, a drug model compound, to demonstrate the potentiality of adsorption processes based on the usage of supercritical carbon dioxide to treat poorly water-soluble drugs, forming new kinds of drug delivery systems. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were measured and described by models. The effect of pressure, temperature and solution concentration on loaded SA were also studied. Modelling of kinetic data showed that the sorption process was best described by a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm data were best fitted by the Freundlich isotherm. The drug/SA composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray micr…

ZnO nanoparticles embedded in UVM-7-like mesoporous silica materials: Synthesis and characterization

2009

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 …

Novel silver-based nanoclay as an antimicrobial in polylactic acid food packaging coatings.

2010

This paper presents a comprehensive performance study of polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites, obtained by solvent casting, containing a novel silver-based antimicrobial layered silicate additive for use in active food packaging applications. The silver-based nanoclay showed strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative Salmonella spp. Despite the fact that no exfoliation of the silver-based nanoclay in PLA was observed, as suggested by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) experiments, the additive dispersed nicely throughout the PLA matrix to a nanoscale, yielding nanobiocomposites. The films were highly transparent with enhanced water barrier …