Silica-Supported Titania–Zirconia Nanocomposites: Structural and Morphological Characteristics in Different Media

Abstract

A series of TiO2–ZrO2/SiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using a liquid-phase method and characterized by various techniques, namely, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). It was revealed that the component ratio and calcination temperature affect the phase composition of nanocomposites. Composites TiZrSi1 (TiO2:ZrO2:SiO2 = 3:10:87) and TiZrSi2 (10:10:80) calcined at 1100 °С demonstrate the presence of t-ZrO2 crystallites in TiZrSi1 and ZrTiO4 phase in TiZrSi2. The samples calcined at 550 °С were amorphous as it was found from XRD data. According to the Raman spectra, the bands specific for anatase are observed in TiZrSi2. According to XPS data, Zr and Ti are in the highest oxidation state (+4). Textural analysis shows that initial silica is mainly meso/macroporous, but composites are mainly macroporous. The particle size distributions in aqueous media showed a tendency of increasing particle size with increasing TiO2 content in the composites.

Silica-supported $$\hbox {Ni}_{{x}}\hbox {O}_{{y}}$$, $$\hbox {Zn}_{{x}}\hbox {O}_{{y}}$$ and $$\hbox {Mn}_{{x}}\hbox {O}_{{y}}$$ nanocomposites: physicochemical characteristics and interactions with water and n-decane

“…To control the morphology and other characteristics of nanoparticles, the synthesis of certain phases (deposits) could be carried out at a surface of nanocarriers with a high-specific surface area [13][14][15][16][17]. Fumed silica is one of the most widely used carriers with a large-specific surface area, high-thermal stability and chemical resistance [14].…”

“…The use of fumed silica as a carrier provides the simplicity of the modification methods with easy control of the dispersity of both a deposited phase and whole material as well the structure and surface properties. Some silica-supported nanocomposites with CeO, ZrO and TiO 2 were synthesized by sol-gel or chemical vapour depositions of these oxides on a surface of highly dispersed fumed silica [15][16][17]. Such nanosized oxide deposits as Mn x O y , Ni x O y and Zn x O y are promising for the synthesis of highly disperse oxides with improved surface properties, e.g., as catalysts [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”

Particulate morphology of nanostructured materials

“…%) and TiO 2 -ZrO 2 /SiO 2 (10 : 10 : 80 wt. %) were synthesized using a liquid-phase method and fumed silica A-300 as a substrate that results in the formation of ZrCeO x /SiO 2 and ZrTiO x /SiO 2 heated at 550 °C (XRD-amorphous phase, but HRTEM images show the presence of crystallites) and 1100 °C (including XRDcrystalline phase) [26][27][28]. Two natural materials: "black clay" (Carpathian region including crystalline quartz, CaCO 3 , smectite with amorphous carbon (coal) and other components) and kaolin clay (Azov region, mainly kaolinite and small admixtures with quartz and clays, e.g.…”

ZrO2 incorporated TiO2 based solar reflective nanocomposite coatings on glass to be used as energy saving building components

“…5c, d) corresponding to the binding energy of 458.4 and 182 eV represent Ti 4+ and Zr 4+ ions, respectively [25]. Shifting of Ti 2p 3/2 towards lower energy region was observed for TZ85:15 coating compared to pure titania [28] coating due to the formation of Ti-O-Zr bond. Further, after deconvolution of O 1 s (Fig.…”