Oxide-based inorganic/organic and nanoporous spherical particles: synthesis and functional properties

Abstract

This paper reviews the recent progress in the preparation of oxide-based and heteroatom-doped particles. Surfactant-templated oxide particles, e.g. silica and titania, are possible candidates for various potential applications such as adsorbents, photocatalysts, and optoelectronic and biological materials. We highlight nanoporous oxides of one element, such as silicon or titanium, and those containing multiple elements, which exhibit properties that are not achieved with individual components. Although the multicomponent nanoporous oxides possess a number of attractive functions, the origin of their properties is hard to determine due to compositional/structural complexity. Particles with a well-defined size and shape are keys for a quantitative and detailed discussion on the unique complex properties of the particles. From this viewpoint, we review the synthesis techniques of the oxide particles, which are functionalized with organic molecules or doped with heteroatoms, the physicochemical properties of the particles and the possibilities for their photofunctional applications as complex systems.

Preparation of a hierarchically porous AlPO4monolith via an epoxide-mediated sol–gel process accompanied by phase separation

“…Porous materials have been paid much attention in both scientific research and practical applications [21–25]. For a catalyst support, a hierarchically porous structure and monolithic shape are more meaningful and desirable.…”

Polyvinylpyrrolidone Nanofibers Encapsulating an Anhydrous Preparation of Fluorescent SiO2–Tb3+ Nanoparticles

“…Tagaya et al successfully prepared Eu(III)-doped nanoporous silica spheres by the sol–gel method and found that Eu 3+ ions were located in a low-symmetry environment [8]. Mukhametshina studied the effects of silica coating and further silica surface decoration by phospholipid bilayers on the quenching of Tb(III) complexes by adrenochrome [9]. Binnemans provided detailed information on certain materials, including sol–gel technology-based composites using silica precursors as the host matrix [10].…”

Silaffin primary structure and its effects on the precipitation morphology of titanium dioxide

“…The size and morphology of the oxide structures affect the ability of these oxides to perform these varied functions. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Current industrial methods for forming inorganic oxides involve the use of organic solvents, corrosive pH, and/or high temperature and pressure. Though effective at producing the oxide, they provide limited control over morphology.…”