Preparation of SiO2-CuO-CeO2 Composite Powders and Its Thin Film Templated with Oxalic Acid

Abstract

Silica-based ceramic-matrix composites have shown promise as advanced materials for many applications such as chemical catalysts, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. SiO 2 -CuO-CeO 2 multi-component powders and their thin film, using an oxalic acid template as a chelating agent, have larger surface areas and more uniform pore size distribution than those of inorganic acid catalysts. SiO 2 -CuO-CeO 2 composite powders were synthesized using tetraethylorthosilicate, copper (II) nitrate hemi (pentahydrate), and cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate with oxalic acid as template or pore-forming agent. The process of thermal evolution, the phase composition, and the surface morphology of these powders were monitored by thermogravimetrydifferential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS). The mesoporous property of the powders was observed by Brunner-EmmettTeller surface (BET) analysis. The improved surface area of this powder template with oxalic acid was 371.4 m 2 /g. This multicomponent thin film on stainless-steel was prepared by sol-gel dip coating with no cracks.