Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica
The controlled formation and stabilization of nanoparticles is of fundamental relevance for materials science and key to many modern technologies. Common synthetic strategies to arrest growth at small sizes and prevent undesired particle agglomeration often rely on the use of organic additives and r...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/24/2054 |
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| author | Bastian Rödig Diana Funkner Thomas Frank Ulrich Schürmann Julian Rieder Lorenz Kienle Werner Kunz Matthias Kellermeier |
| author_facet | Bastian Rödig Diana Funkner Thomas Frank Ulrich Schürmann Julian Rieder Lorenz Kienle Werner Kunz Matthias Kellermeier |
| author_sort | Bastian Rödig |
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| description | The controlled formation and stabilization of nanoparticles is of fundamental relevance for materials science and key to many modern technologies. Common synthetic strategies to arrest growth at small sizes and prevent undesired particle agglomeration often rely on the use of organic additives and require non-aqueous media and/or high temperatures, all of which appear critical with respect to production costs, safety, and sustainability. In the present work, we demonstrate a simple one-pot process in water under ambient conditions that can produce particles of various transition metal carbonates and sulfides with sizes of only a few nanometers embedded in a silica shell, similar to particles derived from more elaborate synthesis routes, like the sol–gel process. To this end, solutions of soluble salts of metal cations (e.g., chlorides) and the respective anions (e.g., sodium carbonate or sulfide) are mixed in the presence of different amounts of sodium silicate at elevated pH levels. Upon mixing, metal carbonate/sulfide particles nucleate, and their subsequent growth causes a sensible decrease of pH in the vicinity. Dissolved silicate species respond to this local acidification by condensation reactions, which eventually lead to the formation of amorphous silica layers that encapsulate the metal carbonate/sulfide cores and, thus, effectively inhibit any further growth. The as-obtained carbonate nanodots can readily be converted into the corresponding metal oxides by secondary thermal treatment, during which their nanometric size is maintained. Although the described method clearly requires optimization towards actual applications, the results of this study highlight the potential of bottom-up self-assembly for the synthesis of functional nanoparticles at mild conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4cf5def84f894ecbb6a6ad42a5b67ba5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-4cf5def84f894ecbb6a6ad42a5b67ba52024-12-27T14:43:37ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912024-12-011424205410.3390/nano14242054Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with SilicaBastian Rödig0Diana Funkner1Thomas Frank2Ulrich Schürmann3Julian Rieder4Lorenz Kienle5Werner Kunz6Matthias Kellermeier7Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, GermanyInstitute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, GermanyInstitute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, GermanyFaculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143 Kiel, GermanyInstitute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, GermanyFaculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143 Kiel, GermanyInstitute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, GermanyMaterial Science, BASF SE, RGA/BM–B007, Carl-Bosch-Str. 38, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, GermanyThe controlled formation and stabilization of nanoparticles is of fundamental relevance for materials science and key to many modern technologies. Common synthetic strategies to arrest growth at small sizes and prevent undesired particle agglomeration often rely on the use of organic additives and require non-aqueous media and/or high temperatures, all of which appear critical with respect to production costs, safety, and sustainability. In the present work, we demonstrate a simple one-pot process in water under ambient conditions that can produce particles of various transition metal carbonates and sulfides with sizes of only a few nanometers embedded in a silica shell, similar to particles derived from more elaborate synthesis routes, like the sol–gel process. To this end, solutions of soluble salts of metal cations (e.g., chlorides) and the respective anions (e.g., sodium carbonate or sulfide) are mixed in the presence of different amounts of sodium silicate at elevated pH levels. Upon mixing, metal carbonate/sulfide particles nucleate, and their subsequent growth causes a sensible decrease of pH in the vicinity. Dissolved silicate species respond to this local acidification by condensation reactions, which eventually lead to the formation of amorphous silica layers that encapsulate the metal carbonate/sulfide cores and, thus, effectively inhibit any further growth. The as-obtained carbonate nanodots can readily be converted into the corresponding metal oxides by secondary thermal treatment, during which their nanometric size is maintained. Although the described method clearly requires optimization towards actual applications, the results of this study highlight the potential of bottom-up self-assembly for the synthesis of functional nanoparticles at mild conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/24/2054nanodotstransition metal oxidestransition metal sulfidessilicaco-precipitationcore–shell particles |
| spellingShingle | Bastian Rödig Diana Funkner Thomas Frank Ulrich Schürmann Julian Rieder Lorenz Kienle Werner Kunz Matthias Kellermeier Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica Nanomaterials nanodots transition metal oxides transition metal sulfides silica co-precipitation core–shell particles |
| title | Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica |
| title_full | Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica |
| title_fullStr | Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica |
| title_short | Nanodots of Transition Metal Sulfides, Carbonates, and Oxides Obtained Through Spontaneous Co-Precipitation with Silica |
| title_sort | nanodots of transition metal sulfides carbonates and oxides obtained through spontaneous co precipitation with silica |
| topic | nanodots transition metal oxides transition metal sulfides silica co-precipitation core–shell particles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/24/2054 |
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