Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties

Porous silica gel powders, doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were obtained by heating silica gels containing 1-dodecanethiol and tetrachloroauric acid at temperatures of 450 °C, 700 °C and 900 °C, and characterized using X-ray diffraction, TEM/EDS studies, UV/Vis reflectance spectroscopy and DT...

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Main Authors: Nina Danchova, Dimitar Shandurkov, Roumen Tsekov, Luben Mihaylov, Tony Spassov, Stoyan Gutzov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Gels
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/454
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author Nina Danchova
Dimitar Shandurkov
Roumen Tsekov
Luben Mihaylov
Tony Spassov
Stoyan Gutzov
author_facet Nina Danchova
Dimitar Shandurkov
Roumen Tsekov
Luben Mihaylov
Tony Spassov
Stoyan Gutzov
author_sort Nina Danchova
collection DOAJ
description Porous silica gel powders, doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were obtained by heating silica gels containing 1-dodecanethiol and tetrachloroauric acid at temperatures of 450 °C, 700 °C and 900 °C, and characterized using X-ray diffraction, TEM/EDS studies, UV/Vis reflectance spectroscopy and DTA/TG investigations. The color and microstructure of the obtained samples with a composition SiO<sub>2</sub>:AuNPs (about 0.03% Au) depend on the heating temperature. The UV/Vis reflection spectra of the samples are explained using Mie’s theory. The thermal stability of the obtained samples, as well as the processes occurring in the sol–gel matrix upon heating, were monitored by DTA/TG. The textural properties of the obtained materials were described based on adsorption–desorption isotherms. The obtained nanocomposites are promising pigments for ceramic glazes, similar to the Purple of Cassius. The textural properties of certain samples, <b>S<sub>BET</sub></b> = 200–350 m<sup>2</sup>/g, a mean pore diameter (<b>D<sub>AV</sub></b>) of approximately 10 nm and a specific pore volume (<b>V<sub>t</sub></b>) between 0.5 and 0.8 cm<sup>3</sup>/g, make them promising candidates for catalytic applications, comparable to aerogel-like materials.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-1bd6cf795a974eeeb92b0a988af3d2f52025-08-20T02:21:02ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-06-0111645410.3390/gels11060454Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural PropertiesNina Danchova0Dimitar Shandurkov1Roumen Tsekov2Luben Mihaylov3Tony Spassov4Stoyan Gutzov5Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, J. Bourchier Blvd. 1, 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, J. Bourchier Blvd. 1, 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, J. Bourchier Blvd. 1, 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, J. Bourchier Blvd. 1, 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, J. Bourchier Blvd. 1, 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, J. Bourchier Blvd. 1, 1164 Sofia, BulgariaPorous silica gel powders, doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were obtained by heating silica gels containing 1-dodecanethiol and tetrachloroauric acid at temperatures of 450 °C, 700 °C and 900 °C, and characterized using X-ray diffraction, TEM/EDS studies, UV/Vis reflectance spectroscopy and DTA/TG investigations. The color and microstructure of the obtained samples with a composition SiO<sub>2</sub>:AuNPs (about 0.03% Au) depend on the heating temperature. The UV/Vis reflection spectra of the samples are explained using Mie’s theory. The thermal stability of the obtained samples, as well as the processes occurring in the sol–gel matrix upon heating, were monitored by DTA/TG. The textural properties of the obtained materials were described based on adsorption–desorption isotherms. The obtained nanocomposites are promising pigments for ceramic glazes, similar to the Purple of Cassius. The textural properties of certain samples, <b>S<sub>BET</sub></b> = 200–350 m<sup>2</sup>/g, a mean pore diameter (<b>D<sub>AV</sub></b>) of approximately 10 nm and a specific pore volume (<b>V<sub>t</sub></b>) between 0.5 and 0.8 cm<sup>3</sup>/g, make them promising candidates for catalytic applications, comparable to aerogel-like materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/454gold nanoparticlessilicasol–gelceramic pigmentsnanocomposites
spellingShingle Nina Danchova
Dimitar Shandurkov
Roumen Tsekov
Luben Mihaylov
Tony Spassov
Stoyan Gutzov
Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties
Gels
gold nanoparticles
silica
sol–gel
ceramic pigments
nanocomposites
title Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties
title_full Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties
title_fullStr Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties
title_full_unstemmed Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties
title_short Porous Silica Gels Doped with Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Microstructure, Optical and Textural Properties
title_sort porous silica gels doped with gold nanoparticles preparation microstructure optical and textural properties
topic gold nanoparticles
silica
sol–gel
ceramic pigments
nanocomposites
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/454
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AT dimitarshandurkov poroussilicagelsdopedwithgoldnanoparticlespreparationmicrostructureopticalandtexturalproperties
AT roumentsekov poroussilicagelsdopedwithgoldnanoparticlespreparationmicrostructureopticalandtexturalproperties
AT lubenmihaylov poroussilicagelsdopedwithgoldnanoparticlespreparationmicrostructureopticalandtexturalproperties
AT tonyspassov poroussilicagelsdopedwithgoldnanoparticlespreparationmicrostructureopticalandtexturalproperties
AT stoyangutzov poroussilicagelsdopedwithgoldnanoparticlespreparationmicrostructureopticalandtexturalproperties