Nanocomposites from ceramic oxides

HREM methods are powerful in the study of nanometre-sized metal particles dispersed on ceramic oxides or any other suitable substrate. In many catalytic processes employing supported metallic catalysts, it has been established that the catalytic properties of some structure-sensitive catalysts are enhanced with a decrease in particle size. For example, the rate of CO decomposition on Pd/mica is shown to increase five-fold when the Pd particle sizes are reduced from 5 to 2 nm. A similar size dependence has been observed for Ni/mica. It is, therefore, necessary to observe the particles at very high resolution, coupled with a small-probe high-precision micro- or nanocomposition analysis and micro- or nanodiffraction where possible. Advanced FE-(S)TEM instruments are particularly effective for composition analysis and diffraction on the nanoscale. ED patterns from particles of diameter of 1 nm or less are now possible. 

FIGURE 13.6 Schematic illustration of pillaring process in bidimensional clay (a) ion exchange with precursor cations and (b) conversion to oxide by calcination. (From Yamanaka, S., Design and synthesis of functional layered nanocomposites. Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., 70, 1056, 1991. With permission.). 

According to the matrix, nanocomposites may be classified into three categories i) Ceramic matrix nanocomposite, ii) metal matrix nanocomposites, and iii) polymer matrix nanocomposite. In the first group of composites the matrix is a ceramic material, i.e., a chemical compoxmd from the group of oxides, nitrides, borides, silicides, etc. In most cases of ceramic-matrix nanocomposites the dispersed phase is a metal, and ideally both components, the metallic one and the ceramic one, are finely dispersed in each other in order to elicit the particular nanoscopic properties. Nanocomposites from these combinations were demonstrated to improve their optical, electrical and magnetic properties [5,4], as well as tribological, corrosion-resistance and other protective properties [6,5]. Thus the safest measure is to carefully choose immiscible metal and... 

Due to the potential high-temperature application of nanocomposites, as well as the fact that metal-reinforced ceramic nanocomposites combine metal and non-metal phases in equilibrium, it is important to understand the oxidation resistance of such materials. Using the Ni-alumina system as an example, and following Sekino et al.,12 the partial pressure of oxygen required to prevent the formation of nickel spinel (NiAl204) from a two-phase mixture of Ni and A1203 can be described as 58,59... 

Mixed oxides have a widespread application as magnets, catalysts, and ceramics. Often, nonstoichiometric mixtures with unusual properties can be prepared for example, Fe203 and ZnO have been milled for the production of zinc ferrite [40], while mixed oxides of Ca(OH)2 and Si02 were described by Kosova et al. [77]. Piezoceramic material such as BaTi03 from BaO and anatase Ti02 has been prepared [78], while ZnO and Cr203 have been treated by Marinkovic et al. [79] and calcium silicate hydrates from calcium hydroxide and silica gel by Saito et al. [80]. The thermal dehy-droxylation of Ni(OH)2 to NiO or NiO-Ni(OH)2 nanocomposites has also been investigated [81]. 

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