Effect of cerium on structure modifications of a hybrid sol–gel coating, its mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behavior

An organic–inorganic hybrid coating was developed to improve the corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy AA 2024-T3. Organic and inorganic coatings derived from glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and aluminum tri-sec-butoxide Al(OsBu)3, with different cerium contents, were deposited onto aluminum by dip-coating process. Corrosion resistance and mechanical properties were investigated by electrochemical impedance measurements and nano-indentation respectively. An optimal cerium concentration of 0.01 M was evidenced. To correlate and explain the hybrid coating performances in relation to the cerium content, NMR experiments were performed. It has been shown that when the cerium concentration in the hybrid is higher than 0.01 M there are important modifications in the hybrid structure that account for the mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behavior of the sol–gel coating

Determination of the crystalline and molecular structure of a natural product extracted from Emmotum Nites (Benth) Miers [(2R, 3S)-2-Hydroxyl-3-(2,4-Hydroxyl-Isopropil)-5-Hydroxymethil-8-Methoxymetil-1-Ceto-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaftalen]

A presente dissertação consta de quatro capítulos, sendo que nos dois primeiros apresentamos alguns tópicos dos métodos diretos para determinação de estruturas e nos dois últimos, o desenvolvimento experimental e os resultados finais obtidos na determinação da estrutura cristalina e molecular de um produto natural extraído de E. Nitens, o (2R, 3S) - 2-hidroxi-3-(2&#8217 - hidroxi-isopropil) - 5-hidroximetil-8-metoximetil-1-ceto-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahidronaftaleno, conhecido pelo nome vulgar Emotina B. A Emotina B, C16H22O5, cristaliza no sistema triclínico, grupo espacial P1. Os parâmetros da cela unitária encontrados foram: a=7,474(2), b=8,922(5), c=12,405(4)&#197, &#945=87,68(4), &#946=78,96(3), &#947=67,40(4)° V=715,042޵ dcalc=1,37g/cm3; Z=2 moléculas por cela unitária. Foram coletadas em 1667 reflexões únicas, utilizando o difratômetro automático CAD-4, com radiação monocromatizada de MoK&#945, das quais foram mantidas 1010 reflexões, consideradas observadas segundo o critério I&#62 2&#948(I). A estrutura foi resolvida por métodos diretos (MULTAN-80) e por síntese de Fourier-diferenças sucessivas e refinadas por mínimos quadrados (SHELX-76) até um índice de discordância, R=0,054 para apenas as reflexões observadas e 0,067 para todas as reflexões.As moléculas são aproximadamente planas com variações conformacionais significativas apenas na parte alifática. Relacionam-se através de um pseudo-centro de inversão parcial localizado em (0,0846; 0,0622; 0,4174). Os esquemas de ligação hidrogênio são diferentes nas moléculas A e B e consistem de ligações intra e intermoleculares.This dissertation consists of four chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 present some theoretical aspects of direct methods for crystal structure determination. Chapters 3 and 4 present the description of the experimental work and the crystal structure determination of a natural product obtained from E. Nitens, the (2R, 3S)-2-hydroxy-3-(2&#8217-hydroxy-isopropyl)-5-hydroximethyl-8-methoxymethyl-1-ceto-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronapghtalen (Emmotin - B). Emmotin - B, C16H22O5, crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1. Cell dimensioned are: a=7,474(2), b=8,922(5), c=12,405(4)&#197, &#945=87,68(4), &#946=78,96(3), &#947=67,40(4)° V=715,042޵ dcalc=1,37g/cm3; Z=2 molecules/unit cell. The intensities of 1667 unique reflexions were collected using a CAD-4 automatic diffractometer with monochromated MoK&#945 radiations of which only 1010 with I&#62 2&#948(I) were considered observed. The structure was solved by direct methods (MULTAN-80) and successive applications of difference-Fourier calculations. It was refined by least square methods (SHELX-76). The final agreement index was R=0.054, considering only the observed reflexions and 0.067, considering all reflexions. The two independent molecules are almost identical showing discrepancies only in conformation of the aliphatic side chains. They are mutually related by a partial pseudo center of symmetry located at (0.0846, 0.0622, 0.4174). The hydrogen bonding schemes are different in both A and B molecules and consist of intra and intermolecular bonds

Determination of the crystalline and molecular structure of a natural product extracted from Emmotum Nites (Benth) Miers [(2R, 3S)-2-Hydroxyl-3-(2,4-Hydroxyl-Isopropil)-5-Hydroxymethil-8-Methoxymetil-1-Ceto-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaftalen]

A presente dissertação consta de quatro capítulos, sendo que nos dois primeiros apresentamos alguns tópicos dos métodos diretos para determinação de estruturas e nos dois últimos, o desenvolvimento experimental e os resultados finais obtidos na determinação da estrutura cristalina e molecular de um produto natural extraído de E. Nitens, o (2R, 3S) - 2-hidroxi-3-(2&#8217 - hidroxi-isopropil) - 5-hidroximetil-8-metoximetil-1-ceto-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahidronaftaleno, conhecido pelo nome vulgar Emotina B. A Emotina B, C16H22O5, cristaliza no sistema triclínico, grupo espacial P1. Os parâmetros da cela unitária encontrados foram: a=7,474(2), b=8,922(5), c=12,405(4)&#197, &#945=87,68(4), &#946=78,96(3), &#947=67,40(4)° V=715,042޵ dcalc=1,37g/cm3; Z=2 moléculas por cela unitária. Foram coletadas em 1667 reflexões únicas, utilizando o difratômetro automático CAD-4, com radiação monocromatizada de MoK&#945, das quais foram mantidas 1010 reflexões, consideradas observadas segundo o critério I&#62 2&#948(I). A estrutura foi resolvida por métodos diretos (MULTAN-80) e por síntese de Fourier-diferenças sucessivas e refinadas por mínimos quadrados (SHELX-76) até um índice de discordância, R=0,054 para apenas as reflexões observadas e 0,067 para todas as reflexões.As moléculas são aproximadamente planas com variações conformacionais significativas apenas na parte alifática. Relacionam-se através de um pseudo-centro de inversão parcial localizado em (0,0846; 0,0622; 0,4174). Os esquemas de ligação hidrogênio são diferentes nas moléculas A e B e consistem de ligações intra e intermoleculares.This dissertation consists of four chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 present some theoretical aspects of direct methods for crystal structure determination. Chapters 3 and 4 present the description of the experimental work and the crystal structure determination of a natural product obtained from E. Nitens, the (2R, 3S)-2-hydroxy-3-(2&#8217-hydroxy-isopropyl)-5-hydroximethyl-8-methoxymethyl-1-ceto-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronapghtalen (Emmotin - B). Emmotin - B, C16H22O5, crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1. Cell dimensioned are: a=7,474(2), b=8,922(5), c=12,405(4)&#197, &#945=87,68(4), &#946=78,96(3), &#947=67,40(4)° V=715,042޵ dcalc=1,37g/cm3; Z=2 molecules/unit cell. The intensities of 1667 unique reflexions were collected using a CAD-4 automatic diffractometer with monochromated MoK&#945 radiations of which only 1010 with I&#62 2&#948(I) were considered observed. The structure was solved by direct methods (MULTAN-80) and successive applications of difference-Fourier calculations. It was refined by least square methods (SHELX-76). The final agreement index was R=0.054, considering only the observed reflexions and 0.067, considering all reflexions. The two independent molecules are almost identical showing discrepancies only in conformation of the aliphatic side chains. They are mutually related by a partial pseudo center of symmetry located at (0.0846, 0.0622, 0.4174). The hydrogen bonding schemes are different in both A and B molecules and consist of intra and intermolecular bonds

Ionic diffusion and structure correlation for vitreous and crystalline fluorides.

O estudo de propriedades de transporte das fases vítreas do sistema LixTh1-xF4-3x por RMN do 7Li e do 19F mostrou que tanto os ions Li+ quanto F- são condutores. O lítio é móvel para todas as temperaturas estudadas e atua como cátion modificador do retículo, enquanto que o flúor é condutor apenas acima de 373K. Por espectroscopia vibracional ficou evidenciada a variação do número de coordenação do Th (de 8,5 a 9,5) em função da composição. No sistema LixU1-xF4-3x verificou-se que o átomo de urânio assume coordenação 8, independentemente da composição. O paramagnetismo dos vidros de urânio, determinado por medidas magnéticas e de RPE, é devido ao paramagnetismo inerente ao átomo de urânio isolado impedindo o estudo destas amostras por RMN. A determinação da estrutura cristalina da fase Li3ThF7 utilizando difração de raios-X por monocristal mostrou que este material cristaliza-se no grupo espacial P4/ncc do sistema tetragonal; a=6,200(1)&#197, c=12,937(2)&#197, Z=4 moléculas/cela unitária. A estrutura é formada por camadas de poliedros (ThF9) ,com quatro vértices comuns no plano ab. Os átomos de lítio localizam-se entre estas cama das ligando os poliedros [ThF9) ao longo do eixo c. Há uma desordem dos átomos de lítio que ocupam os sítios 8f e 16g na proporção 1:3. O efeito quadrupolar observado por RMN do 7Li na fase cristalina, acima de 333K, pode ser explicado pela troca de íons lítio entre sítios não equivalentes que modulam os gradientes de campo elétrico a que cada núcleo individual esta submetido. Cálculos dos componentes principais do tensor gradiente de campo elétrico, para os diferentes sítios ocupados pelo lítio, indicam a ionocovalência da ligação Th-F e o processo de difusão planar deste íon entre as camadas de poliedros de tório. O processo de difusão planar do lítio na fase cristalina Li3ThF7 comparado ao da amostra vítrea de mesma composição Li0,75Th0,25F1,75, explica o valor ligeiramente inferior da energia de ativação do lítio medido para a amostra cristalina. No cristal há periodicidade das camadas de lítio facilitando a mobilidade o que não acontece no vidro onde o encadeamento dos poliedros é distorcido a curta distância. O estudo cristaloquímico da fase policristalina LiZnF3 exibiu três tipos de estrutura possíveis: coríndon, ilmenita e LiTaO3, cujos grupos espaciais são indistinguíveis por difração de raios-X em policristais. Cálculos de segundo momento teórico comparados ao experimental observado por RMN continua do 19F, permitiram descartar a hipótese estrutural tipo LiTaO3. A desconvolução do espéctro de ressonância do 7Li, evidenciando o mascaramento dos satélites quadrupolares do lítio, possibilitou o cálculo do momento quadrupolar. Este efeito permitiu eliminar a estrutura tipo coríndon e mostrou que este é o primeiro fluoreto sintetizado com estrutura ilmenita.The 7Li and 19F NMR study of transport properties of the vitreous phases in the system LixTh1-xF4-3x shows that both Li+ and F- are ionic carriers. In all the temperature range studied lithium cations are mobile and behave as a network modifier, meanwhile fluorine anions are mobile above 373K. The variation of the thorium coordination number (from 8.5 to 9.5) with composition is followed by vibration spectroscopy. It has been verified that, in the system LixU1-xF4-3x the coordination number of uranium (equal to 8) does not depends on the composition. The paramagnetism of uranium glasses determined by EPR and magnetic measurements, due to the paramagnetism of isolated uranium atom, forbids NMR studies on these samples. Crystal structure determination of Li3ThF7 has been performed on single crystal by X-ray diffraction: tetragonal system, space group P4/ncc; a= 6.200(1)&#197, c=12.937(2)&#197, Z=4. The structure is characterized by layers of ThF9 polyhedra sharing 4 corners in ab plane. The lithium atoms are localized between these layers and bridge ThF9 polyhedra along c-axis. There is a 1:3 disorder of lithium atoms in the sites 8f and 16g. The rapid exchange of the lithium ions between non equivalent sites modulates the electric field gradients seen by individual lithium and can explain the behavior of the 7Li quadrupolar effect observed (above 333K) in the crystalline phase. Calculations of the main components of the electric field gradient tensor according to the different sites of lithium atoms indicate a part of covalence in the Th-F bond and support the lithium planar diffusion between thorium polyhedra layers. The comparison between the lithium planar diffusion in the crystalline phase Li3ThF7, and in the vitreous composition Li0,75Th0,25F1,75 allows an explanation of the slightly weaker activation energy observed in the crystal. The periodicity of the Li+ layers in the crystal facilities this mobility hindered at the contrary by the short range distorted chains of thorium polyhedral in the glass. An X-ray study of the polycrystalline phase LiZnF3 does not permit to choose between the three possible structures: corindon, ilmenite or LiTaO3 type. A comparison between experimental and theoretical 19F second moment leads to eliminate the structural hypothesis of LiTaO3 type. The deconvolution of the 7Li resonance spectrum shows a first order quadrupolar effect of the lithium and allows the calculation of the quadrupolar splitting. This effect in contradiction with a corindon type structure, is in good agreement with the ilmenite type, showing the first fluoride synthesized with an ilmenite structure

Ionic diffusion and structure correlation for vitreous and crystalline fluorides.

O estudo de propriedades de transporte das fases vítreas do sistema LixTh1-xF4-3x por RMN do 7Li e do 19F mostrou que tanto os ions Li+ quanto F- são condutores. O lítio é móvel para todas as temperaturas estudadas e atua como cátion modificador do retículo, enquanto que o flúor é condutor apenas acima de 373K. Por espectroscopia vibracional ficou evidenciada a variação do número de coordenação do Th (de 8,5 a 9,5) em função da composição. No sistema LixU1-xF4-3x verificou-se que o átomo de urânio assume coordenação 8, independentemente da composição. O paramagnetismo dos vidros de urânio, determinado por medidas magnéticas e de RPE, é devido ao paramagnetismo inerente ao átomo de urânio isolado impedindo o estudo destas amostras por RMN. A determinação da estrutura cristalina da fase Li3ThF7 utilizando difração de raios-X por monocristal mostrou que este material cristaliza-se no grupo espacial P4/ncc do sistema tetragonal; a=6,200(1)&#197, c=12,937(2)&#197, Z=4 moléculas/cela unitária. A estrutura é formada por camadas de poliedros (ThF9) ,com quatro vértices comuns no plano ab. Os átomos de lítio localizam-se entre estas cama das ligando os poliedros [ThF9) ao longo do eixo c. Há uma desordem dos átomos de lítio que ocupam os sítios 8f e 16g na proporção 1:3. O efeito quadrupolar observado por RMN do 7Li na fase cristalina, acima de 333K, pode ser explicado pela troca de íons lítio entre sítios não equivalentes que modulam os gradientes de campo elétrico a que cada núcleo individual esta submetido. Cálculos dos componentes principais do tensor gradiente de campo elétrico, para os diferentes sítios ocupados pelo lítio, indicam a ionocovalência da ligação Th-F e o processo de difusão planar deste íon entre as camadas de poliedros de tório. O processo de difusão planar do lítio na fase cristalina Li3ThF7 comparado ao da amostra vítrea de mesma composição Li0,75Th0,25F1,75, explica o valor ligeiramente inferior da energia de ativação do lítio medido para a amostra cristalina. No cristal há periodicidade das camadas de lítio facilitando a mobilidade o que não acontece no vidro onde o encadeamento dos poliedros é distorcido a curta distância. O estudo cristaloquímico da fase policristalina LiZnF3 exibiu três tipos de estrutura possíveis: coríndon, ilmenita e LiTaO3, cujos grupos espaciais são indistinguíveis por difração de raios-X em policristais. Cálculos de segundo momento teórico comparados ao experimental observado por RMN continua do 19F, permitiram descartar a hipótese estrutural tipo LiTaO3. A desconvolução do espéctro de ressonância do 7Li, evidenciando o mascaramento dos satélites quadrupolares do lítio, possibilitou o cálculo do momento quadrupolar. Este efeito permitiu eliminar a estrutura tipo coríndon e mostrou que este é o primeiro fluoreto sintetizado com estrutura ilmenita.The 7Li and 19F NMR study of transport properties of the vitreous phases in the system LixTh1-xF4-3x shows that both Li+ and F- are ionic carriers. In all the temperature range studied lithium cations are mobile and behave as a network modifier, meanwhile fluorine anions are mobile above 373K. The variation of the thorium coordination number (from 8.5 to 9.5) with composition is followed by vibration spectroscopy. It has been verified that, in the system LixU1-xF4-3x the coordination number of uranium (equal to 8) does not depends on the composition. The paramagnetism of uranium glasses determined by EPR and magnetic measurements, due to the paramagnetism of isolated uranium atom, forbids NMR studies on these samples. Crystal structure determination of Li3ThF7 has been performed on single crystal by X-ray diffraction: tetragonal system, space group P4/ncc; a= 6.200(1)&#197, c=12.937(2)&#197, Z=4. The structure is characterized by layers of ThF9 polyhedra sharing 4 corners in ab plane. The lithium atoms are localized between these layers and bridge ThF9 polyhedra along c-axis. There is a 1:3 disorder of lithium atoms in the sites 8f and 16g. The rapid exchange of the lithium ions between non equivalent sites modulates the electric field gradients seen by individual lithium and can explain the behavior of the 7Li quadrupolar effect observed (above 333K) in the crystalline phase. Calculations of the main components of the electric field gradient tensor according to the different sites of lithium atoms indicate a part of covalence in the Th-F bond and support the lithium planar diffusion between thorium polyhedra layers. The comparison between the lithium planar diffusion in the crystalline phase Li3ThF7, and in the vitreous composition Li0,75Th0,25F1,75 allows an explanation of the slightly weaker activation energy observed in the crystal. The periodicity of the Li+ layers in the crystal facilities this mobility hindered at the contrary by the short range distorted chains of thorium polyhedral in the glass. An X-ray study of the polycrystalline phase LiZnF3 does not permit to choose between the three possible structures: corindon, ilmenite or LiTaO3 type. A comparison between experimental and theoretical 19F second moment leads to eliminate the structural hypothesis of LiTaO3 type. The deconvolution of the 7Li resonance spectrum shows a first order quadrupolar effect of the lithium and allows the calculation of the quadrupolar splitting. This effect in contradiction with a corindon type structure, is in good agreement with the ilmenite type, showing the first fluoride synthesized with an ilmenite structure

Etude struturale des précurseurs, intermédiaires et colloïdes dérivés de l'acétate de zinc et propriétés électriques, optiques et structurales des couches minces d'oxyde de zinc dopé au indium

LIMOGES-BU Sciences (870852109) / SudocLIMOGES-ENSCI (870852305) / SudocSudocFranceBrazilFRB

Formação e crescimento de nanopartículas de óxido de zinco via sol-gel

Ces dernières années, la synthèse de nanoparticules (diamètre compris entre 1 et 20 nm) a fortement retenu l'attention des chercheurs, car elles ont des propriétés électroniques, luminescentes, catalytiques, de conversion de l'énergie et optoélectroniques bien différentes de celles de la structure massique. Les nanoparticules semi-conductrices présentent également une modification des propriétés électroniques par rapport au volume. L'observation de l'augmentation de la bande interdite avec la diminution de la taille des particules est l'un des sujets les plus étudiés dans le domaine des nanoparticules semi-conductrices. En effet, elle permet de changer les propriétés chimiques et électroniques d'un matériau en contrôlant simplement la taille des particules. L'idée est apparue dans les années 1980 lorsque Brus et ses collègues ont trouvé des solutions de nanoparticules de différentes couleurs formées par la même substance. Parmi les semi-conducteurs qui présentent cette propriété, il y a l'oxyde zinc tout particulièrement. La diversité morphologique de l'oxyde de zinc (ZnO) est supérieure à tout autre nanomatériau synthétique ou inorganique. Des nanoparticules de ZnO de différentes morphologies ont été obtenues et rapportées dans la littérature ces dernières années, cette diversité est en pleine expansion et devient un enjeu majeur de la recherche en nanotechnologie. Comme les propriétés de ZnO sont fortement dépendantes de la structure et de la morphologie, elles sont classées selon la taille, l'orientation et la densité du cristal. Ces caractéristiques structurelles influent sur le développement de nouvelles méthodes de synthèse permettant de contrôler la croissance de ZnO. Cependant, les facteurs qui influencent la formation de ces nanostructures ne sont pas bien établies dans la littérature, car dans la plupart des publications sur la croissance, les processus d'agrégations sont négligés ; seul le matériau final est caractérisé, ne prenant pas en compte les mécanismes de formation et de croissance de ces nanostructures. Sur la base de ces arguments, cette thèse se concentre sur les processus impliqués dans les étapes de formation des nanoparticules de ZnO lors de la synthèse par voie sol-gel. Les précurseurs utilisés dans les réactions de formation et de croissance des nanoparticules de ZnO, sont similaires à ceux proposés par Spanhel et Anderson, ce sont des dérivés de l'acétate de zinc. Les bases LiOH, NaOH et KOH ont été utilisées pour étudier l'influence sur la formation des nanoparticules. Les réactions ont été suivies par spectroscopie in situ dans l'ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), qui est un puissant outil d'analyse permettant d'identifier la formation, la croissance et également de déterminer la taille des nanoparticules de ZnO. L'évolution nanostructurale a été suivie par des études de diffusion des rayons X aux petites angles (SAXS), tandis que l'évolution de la structure locale a été étudiée par des mesures d'absorption de rayons X (EXAFS), qui nous a permis d'identifier et de quantifier les particules de ZnO formées à différents intervalles de temps. Finalement, les mécanismes qui contrôlent chaque pas de la reaction de l'hydrolyse de l'acétate de zinc ont été discriminées comme: i) nucleation et croissance, ii) croissance des aggregées denses, iii) croissance des aggregées fractales (DLCCA), iv) repricipitation secondaires de la phase oxyde de zinc (DLCCA).ln recent years, the synthesis of nanoparticles (diameter between 1 and 20 nm) has strongly attracted attention of researchers due to their electronic, luminescent, optoelectronic and catalytic properties varying significantly with particle size. The study of increasing band gap with decreasing particle size is one of the most studied in the field of semiconductor nanoparticles. ln fact it can change the chemical and electronic properties of a material by simply controlling the particle size. The idea emerged in the 1980's when Brus and his colleagues have found solutions nanoparticles of different colors formed by the same substance. Among the semiconductors that exhibit this property, there are the chalcogenides of cadmium and zinc oxide in particular. The morphological diversity of zinc oxide (ZnO) is superior to any other synthetic or inorganic nanomaterials. ZnO nanoparticles of different morphologies have been obtained and reported in the literature in recent years; this diversity is growing and becoming a major issue of research in nanotechnology. Since the properties of ZnO are strongly dependent on the structure and morphology, they are classified by size, orientation and density of the crystal. These structural characteristics affect the development of new synthetic methods for controlling the growth of ZnO. However, the factors that influence the formation of these nanostructures are not well established in the literature, because in most publications on growth, aggregation proces are neglected and oruy the [mal material is characterised. Based on these arguments, this thesis focuses on the processes involved in the different steps of formation of ZnO nanoparticles by sol-gel synthesis. The precursors used in reactions of formation and growth of ZnO nanoparticles are similar to those proposed by Spanhel and Anderson, they are derived from zinc acetate. The bases LiOH, NaOH and KOH were used to study their influence on the formation the nanoparticles. The reactions were followed by in situ spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), which is a powerful analytical tool to identify the formation, growth and also determine the size of ZnO nanoparticles. The nano-structural evolution has been followed by studies of Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), while the evolution of the local structure has been studied by means of Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Strucutre (EXAFS), which enabled us identify and quantify the ZnO particles formed at different time intervals. Moreover, the mechanisms that control each step of the hydrolises reaction were discriminated as follows: i) nucleation and growth, ii) growth of dense aggregat iii) growth of fractal aggregates, iv) secondary reprecipitation of the zinc oxyde phase.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Formation of SnO2 supported porous membranes

In this work, the effect of the substrate microstructure on the formation of SnO2 membranes and of the sintering conditions on their porosity have been analysed. Samples have been prepared by colloidal suspensions cast on alumina or kaolin substrates. Supported membranes have been characterized by Hg porosimetry, MEV, XRD and N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results show that the narrower pore size distribution of alumina substrate allowed to prepare membranes more homogeneous and free of cracks than that supported on kaolin. The crystallite and pore sizes of the membranes could be controlled by adjusting the temperature of sintering, allowing materials with adequate microstructure with application for ultrafiltration process

Preparation of SnO2 supported membranes with ultrafine pores

The colloidal route of the sol-gel process was used to prepare supported SnO2 membranes. The influence of the sol and monoelectrolyte concentrations on the formation of the gel layer by sol-casting on the top of macroporous alpha-Al2O3 support was described. The stability of the colloidal suspension as a function of the concentrations was analyzed from creep-recovery measurements. The calcined supported membranes were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy. The set of results show that homogeneous membrane layers containing the smallest quantity of cracks are formed in a critical interval of sol (1.01 less than or equal to[SnO2]less than or equal to 1.4 M) and electrolyte (2.O less than or equal to[Cl-]less than or equal to 4.0 mM) concentrations. The samples prepared from concentrated suspensions present a lot of interconnected cracks which favors the peeling of the coated layer. The membranes have pores of average diameter of about 1 nm

Rheological study of the thermoreversible sol-gel transition of sulfate modified zirconyl chloride aqueous sol

The sols prepared by mixing a ZrOCl2 acidified solution to a hot H2SO4 aqueous solutions were studied in order to clarify the mechanism of thermoreversible sol-gel transition observed in this system. The viscoelastic properties of these suspensions were analyzed during the sol-gel transition by dynamic rheological measurements and quasi-elastic light scattering. The rheological properties were correlated to mass fractal and nearly linear growth models, and percolation theory. The results evidence that the thermoreversible sol-gel transition in this system is due to the formation of a network of physically linked aggregates having fractal structure. The decrease of the SO42- contents in the initial solution leads to the decrease of the fractal dimensionality from 2.3 to 1.8, indicating a change of the kinetic mechanism of aggregate growth. Near the gel point these samples have the typical scaling expected from percolation theory. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved