Sol templating

Prussian blue-based nano-electrode arrays were formed by deposition of the electrocatalyst through lyotropic liquid crystalline [144] or sol templates onto inert electrode supports. Alternatively, nucleation and growth of Prussian blue at early stages results in nano-structured film [145], Whereas Prussian blue is known to be a superior electrocatalyst in hydrogen peroxide reduction, carbon materials used as an electrode support demonstrate only a minor activity. Since the electrochemical reaction on the blank electrode is negligible, the nano-structured electrocatalyst can be considered as a nano-electrode array. 

FIGURE 13.6 Calibration plot for hydrogen peroxide detection in flow-injection mode with nano-struc-tured Prussian blue as a detector Prussian blue electrodeposited through sol template based on the vinyltri-ethoxysilane, operating potential 50 mV, phosphate buffer pH 6.0 + 0.1M KC1, flowrate 0.7ml/min. 

A. Garai and A. K. Nandi, Tuning of different polyaniUne nanostructures from a coacervate gel/sol template, Synth. Met., 159, 757-760 (2009). 

The s)mthesis of zeolites is traditionally performed by crystallisation from a sol-gel mixture comprising reagents such as silica, sodium aluminate, sodium hydroxide and water. Another key component of the sol-gel mixture is a base whose main role is to regulate the pH of the mixture. If an organic base is used then a templating effect may also be observed... 

A new generation of mesoporous silica (SG) materials obtained by sol-gel technique where polymers and ionic or non-ionic surfactant act as stmcture - directed templates is widely developed during last year s. Final materials can be synthesized as thin films and used as sensitive elements of optical and electrochemical sensors. 

Low temperature sol-gel technology is promising approach for preparation of modified with organic molecules silica (SG) thin films. Such films are perspective as sensitive elements of optical sensors. Incorporation of polyelectrolytes into SG sol gives the possibility to obtain composite films with ion-exchange properties. The addition of non-ionic surfactants as template agents into SG sol results formation of ordered mechanically stable materials with tunable pore size. 

SG sols were synthesized by hydrolysis of tetraethyloxysilane in the presence of polyelectrolyte and surfactant. Poly (vinylsulfonic acid) (PVSA) or poly (styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA) were used as cation exchangers, Tween-20 or Triton X-100 were used as non- ionic surfactants. Obtained sol was dropped onto the surface of glass slide and dried over night. Template extraction from the composite film was performed in water- ethanol medium. The ion-exchange properties of the films were studied spectrophotometrically using adsorption of cationic dye Rhodamine 6G or Fe(Phen) and potentiometrically by sorption of protons. 

The most important nanomaterial synthesis methods include nanolithography techniques, template-directed syntheses, vapor-phase methods, vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) methods, solution-liquid-solid (SLS) approaches, sol-gel processes, micelle, vapor deposition, solvothermal methods, and pyrolysis methods [1, 2]. For many of these procedures, the control of size and shape, the flexibility in the materials that can be synthesized, and the potential for scaling up, are the main limitations. In general, the understanding of the growth mechanism of any as-... 

According to Ref. [12], template for synthesis of nanomaterials is defined as a central structure within which a network forms in such a way that removal of this template creates a filled cavity with morphological or stereochemical features related to those of the template. The template synthesis was applied for preparation of various nanostructures inside different three-dimensional nanoporous structures. Chemically, these materials are presented by polymers, metals, oxides, carbides and other substances. Synthetic methods include electrochemical deposition, electroless deposition, chemical polymerization, sol-gel deposition and chemical vapor deposition. These works were reviewed in Refs. [12,20]. An essential feature of this... 

The use of multiple otherwise incompatible catalysts allows multistep reactions to proceed in one reaction vessel, providing many potential benefits. In this chapter, literature examples of nanoencapsulation for the purpose of process intensification have been discussed comprehensively. Current efforts in the literature are mostly concentrated in the areas of LbL template-based nanoencapsulation and sol-gel immobilization. Other cascade reactions (without the use of nanoencapsulation) that allow the use of incompatible catalysts were also examined and showcased as potential targets for nanoencapsulation approaches. Finally, different methods for nanoencapsulation were investigated, thereby suggesting potential ways forward for cascade reactions that use incompatible catalysts, solvent systems, or simply incompatible reaction conditions. 

Li N.C., Martin C.R. A high-rate, high-capacity, nanostructured Sn-based anode prepared using sol-gel template synthesis. J Electrochem. Soc.2001 148(2) A164-70. 

Gas phase reactions are not so common in producing solid oxides and will not be considered here. As far as liquid state reactions are concerned, these can be performed in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents and can be subdivided into (i) precipitation and co-precipitation, including the so-called template synthesis, (ii) evaporation, and (iii) sol-gel methods. 

Sol-gel processing forms the basis for various routes employed for the fabrication of a wide diversity of functional materials. To impart a structural organization at various length scales, the syntheses are performed using templates. Most consist of a self-organized ensemble of surfactants and co-polymers [1-10]. They have been successfully applied to control the geometry and dimensions of pores that are periodically arranged as in the initial structures. Mesoporous silica materials of the MCM family, which were first synthesized by a team from the Mobil oil company [11,12], are a well-known example. 

Preparation and physisorption characterization of D-glucose-templated mesoporous silica sol-gel materials. Chemistry of Materials, 11, 2023-2029. 

Shchipunov, Yu.A., Kojima, A. and Imae, T. (2005) Polysaccharides as a template for silicate generated by sol-gel processes. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 285, 374-380. 

Fig. 10.12 (A) The cation-templated hierarchic self-assembly of guanine alkoxysilane gives the C-quartet and (B) the G-quadruplex transcribed in solid hybrid materials by the sol-gel process.

Numata, M., Sugiyasu, K., Hasegawa, T. and Shinkai, S. (2004) Sol-gel reaction using DNA as a template An attempt toward transcription of DNA into inorganic materials, S. Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 43, 3279-3283. 

More recently, ionic liquids have also been used as additives. Lee and coworkers explain that ionic liquids may ad as a template during the sol-gel process redudng the shrinkage of the matrix by pore filling and behave as a stabilizer to proted Candida rugosa lipases [184]. 

Most examples discussed so far made use of amorphous inorganic supports or sol-gel processed hybrid polymers. Highly disperse materials have recently become accessible via standard processes and, as a result, materials with various controlled particle size, pore diameter are now available. Micelle-templated synthesis of inorganic materials leads to mesoporous materials such as MCM-41, MCM-48, MSU, and these have been extensively used as solid supports for catalysis [52]. Modifications of the polarity of the material can increase the reactivity of the embedded centre, or can decrease its susceptibility to deactivation. In rare cases, enhanced stereo- or even... 

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