Silica-Supported Zirconia. 1. Characterization by Infrared Spectroscopy, Temperature-Programmed Desorption, and X-ray Diffraction

New lignin-based hybrid materials as functional additives for polymer biocomposites: From design to application

Within this study, the ZrO₂/lignin and ZrO₂-SiO₂/lignin hybrid materials were obtained for the first time. The mechanical grinding method was used for this purpose. In order to determine the properties of obtained lignin-based hybrids and the components used to produce them, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of their preparation, the authors used such research techniques as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, porous structure analysis and thermal stability assessment (TGA/DTG). The next step involved using the components and produced hybrid materials as polymer fillers for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The obtained lignin-based hybrid biocomposites have then been thoroughly characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and hardness testing. All the conducted tests confirm the possibility of using the obtained bio-based products in practice, within the widely understood construction industry, for producing durable building facades or noise barriers, among others.

ORMOSIL–ZrO2 hybrid nanocomposites and coatings on aluminium alloys for corrosion resistance; a sol–gel approach

Sol–gel derived ORMOSIL–ZrO₂ hybrid nanocomposites as protective environment-resistant functional coatings on glass substrates and aluminium alloys.

Synthesis of a Cu-infiltrated Zr-doped SBA-15 catalyst for CO2hydrogenation into methanol and dimethyl ether

A catalytically active nanoassembly comprising Cu-nanoparticles grown on integrated and active supports (large pore Zr-doped mesoporous SBA-15 silica) has been synthesized and used to promote CO₂hydrogenation.

Sol-gel derived transparent zirconium-phenyl siloxane hybrid for robust high refractive index LED encapsulant

We report a zirconium-phenyl siloxane hybrid material (ZPH) that can be used as a robust LED encapsulant. The ZPH encapsulant was fabricated via hydrosilylation-curing of sol-gel derived multifunctional (vinyl- and hydride-functions) siloxane resins containing phenyl-groups and Zr-O-Si heterometallic phase for achieving a high refractive index (n ≈ 1.58). In thermal aging, the ZPH LED encapsulant exhibited superior performances with a high optical transparency (∼88% at 450 nm) and exhibited high thermal stability (no yellowing at 180 °C for 1008 h), compared to a commercial LED encapsulant (OE-6630, Dow Corning Corporation). This suggests potential for ZPH to be a robust LED encapsulant.

Hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived phenolic compounds to hydrocarbons over Ni/SiO2-ZrO2 catalysts

Inexpensive non-sulfided Ni-based catalysts were evaluated for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) using guaiacol as model compound. SiO2-ZrO2 (SZ), a complex oxide synthesized by precipitation method with different ratio of Si/Zr, was impregnated with Ni(NO3)2·6H2O and calcined at 500°C. Conversion rates and product distribution for guaiacol HDO at 200-340°C were determined. Guaiacol conversion reached the maximum at 300°C in the presence of Ni/SZ-3. When HDO reaction was carried out with real lignin-derived phenolic compounds under the optimal conditions determined for guaiacol, the total yield of hydrocarbons was 62.81%. These hydrocarbons were comprised of cyclohexane, alkyl-substituted cyclohexane and alkyl-substituted benzene. They have high octane number, would be the most desirable components for fungible liquid transportation fuel.

The two-photon excitation of SiO(2)-coated Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanoparticles by a near-infrared femtosecond laser

In order to improve the photoluminescence property of Eu(3+)-doped nanoparticles, Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanoparticles were synthesized using the Pechini-type sol-gel method, then coated with SiO(2) shells by using the Stöber method for different coating times. The SiO(2)-coated nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, and their photoluminescence spectra were recorded under 800 nm femtosecond laser excitation. The results indicate that a two-photon simultaneous absorption upconversion luminescence is obtained, and their upconversion luminescence intensities are further enhanced after the surfaces of the nanoparticles are coated with different thickness SiO(2) shells. Compared to the upconversion luminescence intensity of non-coated nanoparticles at 611 nm, the upconversion luminescence intensities of SiO(2)-coated Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanoparticles with coating times of 60, 90 and 120 min were enhanced by 3.30, 3.96 and 4.13 times, respectively. This can be attributed to the contributions of the increased amounts of Eu(3+) ions populated at the (5)D(0) level on the surfaces of the nanoparticles because the cooperative ligand fields between the Y(2)O(3) core and non-crystalline SiO(2) shell interfaces activate the 'dormant' Eu(3+) ions near or on the surfaces of the nanoparticles. From a Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory analysis, the coated shell structures can improve the radiative quantum efficiencies of Eu(3+)-doped nanoparticles. It is therefore concluded that more intense red upconversion luminescence with high radiative quantum efficiencies can enable the SiO(2)-coated Y(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanoparticles to have the great potential to be used as a fine resolution phosphor.

Experimental study on the surface modification of Y(2)O(3):Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) nanoparticles to enhance upconversion fluorescence and weaken aggregation

In order to improve the solubility of doped nanoparticles in solutions, Y(2)O(3):Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) nanoparticles were synthesized using the Pechini-type sol-gel method, and their surfaces were modified with amino or carboxylic functional groups using ligand-capped and ligand-exchanging methods. The nanoparticles with modified surfaces were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and zeta potential (ζ), and their photoluminescence was studied by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The results indicate that the upconversion fluorescence of amine- and carboxyl-modified nanoparticles was enhanced after the surfaces of nanoparticles were modified. Compared to the upconversion fluorescence intensity of non-modified nanoparticles, the upconversion fluorescence intensities of amine- and carboxyl-modified nanoparticles were enhanced by 9.4 and 1.4 times, respectively. These results are attributed to the formation of the chemical bonds between Y(2)O(3):Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) core and non-crystalline SiO(2) shell via Y-O-Si bridges, which activate the 'dormant' Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) ions on the surfaces of nanoparticles. The results of the solubility investigations for amine- and carboxyl-modified nanoparticles indicate that severe aggregation can be weakened by adhering amino or carboxylic functional groups to the surfaces of nanoparticles. It is therefore concluded that the good hydrophilicity resulting from active functional groups in solutions and more intense upconversion fluorescence enable the doped core-shell nanoparticles to have great potential to be used as fluorescence biolabels in the future.

Sol–gel approach to in situ creation of high pH-resistant surface-bonded organic–inorganic hybrid zirconia coating for capillary microextraction (in-tube SPME)

A novel zirconia-based hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel coating was developed for capillary microextraction (CME) (in-tube SPME). High degree of chemical inertness inherent in zirconia makes it very difficult to covalently bind a suitable organic ligand to its surface. In the present work, this problem was addressed from a sol-gel chemistry point of view. Principles of sol-gel chemistry were employed to chemically bind a hydroxy-terminated silicone polymer (polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane, PDMDPS) to a sol-gel zirconia network in the course of its evolution from a highly reactive alkoxide precursor undergoing controlled hydrolytic polycondensation reactions. A fused silica capillary was filled with a properly designed sol solution to allow for the sol-gel reactions to take place within the capillary for a predetermined period of time (typically 15-30 min). In the course of this process, a layer of the evolving hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel polymer got chemically anchored to the silanol groups on the capillary inner walls via condensation reaction. At the end of this in-capillary residence time, the unbonded part of the sol solution was expelled from the capillary under helium pressure, leaving behind a chemically bonded sol-gel zirconia-PDMDPS coating on the inner walls. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, and aldehydes were efficiently extracted and preconcentrated from dilute aqueous samples using sol-gel zirconia-PDMDPS coated capillaries followed by thermal desorption and GC analysis of the extracted solutes. The newly developed sol-gel hybrid zirconia coatings demonstrated excellent pH stability, and retained the extraction characteristics intact even after continuous rinsing with a 0.1 M NaOH solution for 24 h. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of a sol-gel zirconia-based hybrid organic-inorganic coating as an extraction medium in solid phase microextraction (SPME).

Molecular understanding of the formation of surface zirconium hydrides upon thermal treatment under hydrogen of [([triple bond]SiO)Zr(CH2tBu)3] by using advanced solid-state NMR techniques

The reaction of [([triple bond]SiO)Zr(CH(2)tBu)(3)] with H(2) at 150 degrees C leads to the hydrogenolysis of the zirconium-carbon bonds to form a very reactive hydride intermediate(s), which further reacts with the surrounding siloxane ligands present at the surface of this support to form mainly two different zirconium hydrides: [([triple bond]SiO)(3)Zr-H] (1a, 70-80%) and [([triple bond]SiO)(2)ZrH(2)] (1b, 20-30%) along with silicon hydrides, [([triple bond]SiO)(3)SiH] and [([triple bond]SiO)(2)SiH(2)]. Their structural identities were identified by (1)H DQ solid-state NMR spectroscopy as well as reactivity studies. These two species react with CO(2) and N(2)O to give, respectively, the corresponding formate [([triple bond]SiO)(4-x)Zr(O-C(=O)H)(x)] (2) and hydroxide complexes [([triple bond]SiO)(4-x)Zr(OH)(x)] (x = 1 or 2 for 3a and 3b, respectively) as major surface complexes.