Nanoparticles Subject

Based on these observations, Wang and Caruso [237] have described an effective method for the fabrication of robust zeolitic membranes with three-dimensional interconnected macroporous (1.2 pm in diameter) stmctures from mesoporous silica spheres previously seeded with silicalite-1 nanoparticles subjected to a conventional hydrothermal treatment. Subsequently, the zeolite membrane modification via the layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly of polyelectrolytes and catalase on the 3D macroporous stmcture results in a biomacromolecule-functionalized macroporous zeolitic membrane bioreactor suitable for biocatalysts investigations. The enzyme-modified membranes exhibit enhanced reaction stability and also display enzyme activities (for H2O2 decomposition) three orders of magnitude higher than their nonporous planar film counterparts assembled on silica substrates. Therefore, the potential of such structures as bioreactors is enormous. 

Fig. 4. Left TEM image of the y-Fe203-Cs2[Mo6Bri4] Si02 nanoparticles. Right fluorescence microscopy images of a dispersion of these nanoparticles subject to a UV excitation and a magnetic field (magnet). Reproduced from Ref. [6] with permission from The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Electron irradiation (100 keV) of the sample, heated to 800°C, yields MWCNTs (20-100 nm in length) attached to the surface. Such nanotube growth does not take place if natural graphite, carbon nanoparticles or PTFE are subjected to electron irradiation. The result implies that the material may be a unique precursor for CNTs and may constitute a new preparation method. 

Nanoparticles of the semicondnctor titanium dioxide have also been spread as mono-layers [164]. Nanoparticles of TiOi were formed by the arrested hydrolysis of titanium iso-propoxide. A very small amount of water was mixed with a chloroform/isopropanol solution of titanium isopropoxide with the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and a catalyst. The particles produced were 1.8-2.2 nm in diameter. The stabilized particles were spread as monolayers. Successive cycles of II-A isotherms exhibited smaller areas for the initial pressnre rise, attributed to dissolution of excess surfactant into the subphase. And BAM observation showed the solid state of the films at 50 mN m was featureless and bright collapse then appeared as a series of stripes across the image. The area per particle determined from the isotherms decreased when sols were subjected to a heat treatment prior to spreading. This effect was believed to arise from a modification to the particle surface that made surfactant adsorption less favorable. 

Methods for the design of size- and even shape-controlled [186,190,191,370-372] metallic nanoparticles have reached a rather mature stadium thanks to the contributions of the pioneer groups of the last 25 years. Applications in a number of fields of practical Nanotechnology are now moving fast into the focus of R D [203,373]. For an overview on the potential application of metal nanoparticles in the rapidly growing fields of quantum dots, self-assembly, and electrical properties, the reader is advised to consult recently published specialist review articles, e.g.. Refs. [160,281] and book chapters (cf Chapters 2, 4, and 5 in Ref. [60]). In the following three sub-sections the authors restrict themselves to a brief summary of a few subjects of current practical interest in fields with which they are most familiar. 

One of the most interesting areas in the field of gold nanoparticles is when they are deposited over Ti02. As turns out from the following part, the results obtained by different research groups are still a subject of debate. 

Scheme 2. Encapsulation of size- and shape-controlled Pt nanoparticles under neutral hydrothermal synthesis conditions of SBA-15. Silica templating block copolymers and silica precursors were added to PVP-protected Pt nanoparticle solutions and subjected to the standard SBA-15 silica synthesis conditions. Neutral, rather than acidic pH conditions were employed to prevent particle aggregation and amorphous silica formation [16j. (Reprinted from Ref. [16], 2006, with permission from American Chemical Society.)...

Metal nanoparticles have received much attention in the past because their unique electronic structure makes them interesting materials for nanoelectronics, optics and catalysis [33]. A large body of work has already been published on the preparation [34] and characterization [35] of such particles and will not be the subject of this section. 

It is not the subject of this chapter to cover all domains of the catalytic properties of nanoparticles modified by organometallics. In particular, we will not cover the work of Bormeman on metallic particles have been modified by organoaluminum compounds. 

The last subject where time-resolved X-ray diffraction techniques proved their exceptional potential concerns chemical physics of gold nanoparticles in water. Belonging jointly to X-ray and nanoparticle physics, this subject is in a certain sense on the borderline of the present chapter [82-84]. Nevertheless, the possibilities offered by time-resolved X-ray techniques in this domain are fascinating. The heart of the problem is as follows. A suspension of gold... 

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