Nanomaterial by Sol-Gel Method: Synthesis and Application

The sol-gel process is a more chemical method (wet chemical method) for the synthesis of various nanostructures, especially metal oxide nanoparticles. In this method, the molecular precursor (usually metal alkoxide) is dissolved in water or alcohol and converted to gel by heating and stirring by hydrolysis/alcoholysis. Since the gel obtained from the hydrolysis/alcoholysis process is wet or damp, it should be dried using appropriate methods depending on the desired properties and application of the gel. For example, if it is an alcoholic solution, the drying process is done by burning alcohol. After the drying stage, the produced gels are powdered and then calcined. The sol-gel method is a cost-effective method and due to the low reaction temperature there is good control over the chemical composition of the products. The sol-gel method can be used in the process of making ceramics as a molding material and can be used as an intermediate between thin films of metal oxides in various applications. The materials obtained from the sol-gel method are used in various optical, electronic, energy, surface engineering, biosensors, and pharmaceutical and separation technologies (such as chromatography). The sol-gel method is a conventional and industrial method for the synthesis of nanoparticles with different chemical composition. The basis of the sol-gel method is the production of a homogeneous sol from the precursors and its conversion into a gel. The solvent in the gel is then removed from the gel structure and the remaining gel is dried. The properties of the dried gel depend significantly on the drying method. In other words, the “removing solvent method” is selected according to the application in which the gel will be used. Dried gels in various ways are used in industries such as surface coating, building insulation, and the production of special clothing. It is worth mentioning that, by grinding the gel by special mills, it is possible to achieve nanoparticles.

Polyesteramides Based on Linseed and Safflower Oils for Protective Coatings

Polyesteramide resins were obtained and evaluated as vehicles and the variations of film performance in relation to the amide linkage were studied. Treatment of either linseed or safflower oils with diethanolamine with catalytic amounts of alkali metal alkoxide under relatively mild conditions led to a substantially complete conversion to N,N-(hydroxyethyl) linseed amide (HELA) and N,N-(hydroxyethyl) safflower amide (HESA). Polymerization of the polyols with diadipyl aromatic amines (aniline, p-toluidine, p-aminophenol and p-aminobenzoic acid) was carried out to yield polyesteramide derivatives having interesting surface coating properties. Such a substitution was claimed to give much harder, tougher, more flexible films with excellent chemical resistance in comparison with alkyd resins of similar oil length. The study includes stoving films mechanical evaluation as gloss percent at 60ºC, adhesion, impact, pencil hardness and bending tests using mild steel plates. The films also possess excellent impact resistance, high scratch hardness values, excellent bending test and good adhesion.

Metal alkoxide-derived Co@NC/NCNS as a highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst

An efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst integrating Co@NC units and porous structure N-doped carbon nanosheets was synthesized by pyrolysis of Co-glycerates and a subsequent acid etching process. It exhibits remarkable ORR/OER performance.

Recent advances on metal alkoxide-based electrocatalysts for water splitting

This review summarizes the advances on metal alkoxide-based electrocatalysts for water splitting and the fundamental principles for enhancing their performances.

Facile Synthesis of Di-Mannitol Adipate Ester-Based Zinc Metal Alkoxide as a Bi-Functional Additive for Poly(Vinyl Chloride)

A new di-mannitol adipate ester-based zinc metal alkoxide (DMAE-Zn) was synthesized as a bi-functional poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) thermal stabilizer for the first time. The materials were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Characterization results confirmed the formation of Zn–O bonds in DMAE-Zn, and confirmed that DMAE-Zn had a high decomposition temperature and a low melting point. The thermal stability of DMAE-Zn on PVC also was tested by a conductivity test, a thermal aging test, and a UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS) test. PVC stabilized by DMAE-Zn had a good initial color and excellent long-term stability. UV-VIS also showed that the conjugated structure in PVC stabilized by DMAE-Zn was almost all of the triene, suggesting that the addition of DMAE-Zn would suppress the formation of conjugated structures above tetraene. The dynamic processing performance of PVC samples tested by torque rheometer indicated that, having a good compatibility with PVC chains in the amorphous regions, DMAE-Zn contributed a good plasticizing effect to PVC. DMAE-Zn thus effectively demonstrates bi-functional roles, e.g., thermal stabilizers and plasticizers to PVC. Furthermore, FT-IR, a HCl absorption capacity test, and a complex ZnCl2 test were also used to verify the thermal stability mechanism of DMAE-Zn for PVC.