Aluminum Alkoxide Fluorides Involved in the Sol–Gel Synthesis of Nanoscopic AlF₃

Abstract

In the search for intermediates during the sol–gel synthesis of nanoscopic AlF3, the fluorolysis of aluminum isopropoxide by HF in pyridine has been investigated. By varying the Al to HF ratio from 0.5 to 2, three aluminum alkoxide fluorides, Al3F(Py)(OiPr)8, Al7F10(μ4‐O)(OiPr)9(Py)3·1.34Py, and Al10F16(μ4‐O)2(OiPr)10(Py)4·4.17Py, were isolated and structurally characterized. The structures of these compounds are discussed as possible snapshots in the consecutive fluorolytic sol–gel formation of nanoscopic AlF3 and give deeper insight into the probable reaction pathway. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

Nano metal fluorides: small particles with great properties

“…Crystalline intermediates can be found only by chance [55,56]. Addition of donor molecules like pyridine, C 5 H 5 N, sometimes even polar solvent molecules, may trap intermediate products and prevent them from consecutive reaction, thus yielding crystal structures [47,57]. Mass spectrometry revealed the presence of numerous differently fluorinated intermediates and therefore crystallisation from such reactions systems is suppressed [58].…”

Nanoscale metal fluorides: a new class of heterogeneous catalysts

“…7) that has been proven in the meantime to be a general synthesis approach for nanoscopic metal fluorides. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] For deeper insights into the mechanism of the fluorolytic sol-gel approach, see ref. 10.…”

Fluorolytic Sol–Gel Synthesis of Nanometal Fluorides: Accessing New Materials for Optical Applications

“…Since the first review about nanofluorides was published in 2006 [2], several further reviews and book chapters have appeared, reflecting specific aspects of the chemistry and materials science of nanometal fluorides [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Components of solar batteries [18], precursors for laser and scintillation ceramics [19,20], white light sources [21,22], biomedical materials [23][24][25][26][27], or catalysis [8,28,29] are just a few examples for potential applications of nanometal fluorides. Thus, nanometal fluorides have recently gained increasing interest as materials for many different applications.…”