Structure of nanoporous zirconia-based powders synthesized by different gel-combustion routes

Zirconia-based ceramics that retain their metastable tetragonal phase at room temperature are widely studied due to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. When these materials are prepared from precursor nanopowders with high specific surface areas, this phase is retained in dense ceramic bodies. In this work, we present a morphological study of nanocrystalline ZrO2-2.8 mol% Y2O3 powders synthesized by the gel-combustion method, using different organic fuels - alanine, glycine, lysine and citric acid - and calcined at temperatures ranging from 873 to 1173 K. The nanopore structures were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering. The experimental results indicate that nanopores in samples prepared with alanine, glycine and lysine have an essentially single-mode volume distribution for calcination temperatures up to 1073 K, while those calcined at 1173 K exhibit a more complex and wider volume distribution. The volume-weighted average of the nanopore radii monotonically increases with increasing calcination temperature. The samples prepared with citric acid exhibit a size distribution much wider than the others. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique was used to determine specific surface area and X-ray diffraction, environmental scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were also employed for a complete characterization of the samples.

Nanopore size growth and ultrafiltration performance of SnO2 ceramic membranes prepared by sol-gel route

Supported ceramic membranes have been produced by the sol-casting procedure from aqueous colloidal suspensions prepared by the sol-gel route. Coatings on a tubular alumina support have been successfully performed leading to crack free layers. Samples have been sintered at 400, 500 and 600 degreesC, and the effect of heating treatment on the nanostructure and on the ultrafiltration properties are analyzed. The characterization has been done by high resolution scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, water permeation and cut-off determination using polyethylene glycol standard solutions. The micrographs have revealed that grains and pore size increase with the temperature, whereas their shape remains invariant. This results is in agreements with N-2 adsorption-desorption analyses, which have revealed that the mean pore size diameter increases from 4 to 10 nm as the sintering temperature increases from 400 to 600 degreesC, while the total porosity remains constant. Furthermore, the tortuosity, calculated from water permeability, is essentially invariant with the sintering temperatures. The membranes cut-off, determined with a retention rate equal to 95%, are 3500, 6500 and 9000 g . mol(-1) for 400, 500 and 600 degreesC, respectively, showing that the permeation properties of SnO2 ultrafiltration membranes can easily be controlled by sintering condition.

Síntese de hidroxiapatita pelo método sol-gel utilizando precursores alternativos: nitrato de cálcio e ácido fosfórico

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Liquid crystalline formulations containing modified surface TiO2 nanoparticles obtained by sol-gel process

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Formation of TiO2 ceramic foams from the integration of the sol-gel method with surfactants assembly and emulsion

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

QEXAFS and UV/Vis Simultaneous Monitoring of the TiO2-Nanoparticles Formation by Hydrolytic Sol-Gel Route

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of cerium on structure modifications of a hybrid sol-gel coating, its mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behavior

An organic-inorganic hybrid coating was developed to improve the corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy AA 2024-T3. Organic and inorganic coatings derived from glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and aluminum tri-sec-butoxide Al((OBu)-Bu-s)(3), with different cerium contents, were deposited onto aluminum by dip-coating process. Corrosion resistance and mechanical properties were investigated by electrochemical impedance measurements and nano-indentation respectively. An optimal cerium concentration of 0.01 M was evidenced. To correlate and explain the hybrid coating performances in relation to the cerium content, NMR experiments were performed. It has been shown that when the cerium concentration in the hybrid is higher than 0.01 M there are important modifications in the hybrid structure that account for the mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behavior of the sol-gel coating. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photoluminescent CaCu3Ti4O12-Based Thin Films Synthesized by a Sol-Gel Method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

NiTiO3 nanoparticles encapsulated with SiO2 prepared by sol-gel method

NiTiO3 (NTO) nanoparticles encapsulated with SiO2 were prepared by the sol-gel method resulting on core-shell structure. Changes on isoelectric point as a function of silica were evaluated by means of zeta potential. The NTO nanoparticles heat treated at 600 degrees C were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. TEM observations showed that the mean size of NTO is in the range of 2.5-42.5 nm while the thickness of SiO2 shell attained 1.5-3.5 nm approximately.

Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of Fe(2)O(3) center dot CeO(2) doped with Pr ceramic pigments

Undoped x center dot alpha-Fe(2)O(3) y center dot CeO(2) and doped with praseodymium ceramic pigments were obtained by the sol-gel method after heat treatment at 800 degrees C for 2 h. These pigments were characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and colorimetrical measurements. Red and brown colors with several tonalities were observed after changes with Ce and Pr concentration.

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous TiO2 nanostructured films prepared by a modified sol-gel method for application in dye solar cells

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Determination of Copper, Iron, Nickel and Zinc in fuel kerosene by FAAS after adsorption and pre-concentration on 2-aminothiazole-modified silica gel

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

External polyacrylate-coating as alternative material for preparation of photopolymerized sol-gel monolithic column

Photopolymerized sol-gel monolithic columns for use in capillary electrochromatography were prepared in 125 mu m i.d. polyacrylate-coated fused-silica capillaries. The polyacrylate-coating, unlike the polyimide one, is transparent to the radiation used (approximate to 370 nm), and thus, no coating removal is necessary. This is a very important particularity since intrinsic capillary column characteristics, such as flexibility and mechanical resistance, are unchanged. A mixture containing metacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) as the polymeric precursor, hydrochloric acid as the catalyst, toluene as the porogen and bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide (Irgacure 819) as the photoinitiator was irradiated at 370 nm for 20 min inside the capillaries to prepare the columns through sol-gel approach. The versatility and viability of the use of polyacrilate as a new capillary external coating were shown through preparation of two columns under different conditions, which were tested in electrochromatography for separation of standard mixture containing thiourea (marker compound), propylbenzene, phenanthrene and pyrene. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Erbium and ytterbium co-doped SiO2 : GeO2 planar waveguide prepared by the sol-gel route using an alternative precursor

The sol-gel method combined with a spin-coating technique has been successfully applied for the preparation of rare-earth doped silica:germania films used for the fabrication of erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWA), presenting several advantages over other methods for the preparation of thin films. As with other methods, the sol-gel route also shows some drawbacks, such as cracks related to the thickness of silica films and high hydrolysis rate of certain precursors such as germanium alkoxides. This article describes the preparation and optical characterization of erbium and ytterbium co-doped SiO2:GeO2 crack-free thick films prepared by the sol-gel route combined with a spin-coating technique using a chemically stable non-aqueous germanium oxide solution as an alternative precursor. The non-crystalline films obtained are planar waveguides exhibiting a single mode at 1,550 nm with an average thickness of 3.9 mu m presenting low percentages of porosity evaluated by the Lorentz-Lorenz Effective Medium Approximation, and low stress, according to the refractive index values measured in both transversal electric and magnetic polarizations. Weakly confining core layers (0.3% < Delta n < 0.75%) were obtained according to the refractive index difference between the core and buffer layers, suggesting that low-loss coupling EDWA may be obtained. The life time of the erbium I-4(13/2) metastable state was measured as a function of erbium concentration in different systems and based on these values it is possible to infer that the hydroxyl group was reduced and the formation of rare-earth clusters was avoided.

Erbium-activated silica-zirconia planar waveguides prepared by sol-gel route

Er(3+) doped (100-x)SiO(2)-xZrO(2) planar waveguides were prepared by the sol-gel route, with x ranging from 10 up to 30 mol%. Multilayer films doped with 0.3 mol% Er(3+) ions were deposited on fused quartz substrates by the dip-coating technique. The thickness and refractive index were measured by m-line spectroscopy at different wavelengths. The fabrication protocol was optimized in order to confine one propagating mode at 1.5 mu m. Photoluminescence in the near and visible region indicated a crystalline local environment for the Er(3+) ion. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.