Synthesis of Large Quantities of Single-Walled Aluminogermanate Nanotube

Abstract

A simple aqueous synthesis yielded about 100 times more structurally well-organized single-walled aluminogermanate nanotubes than previously reported "standard" procedures. The structure analyses using XRD, IRTF, TEM, and XAS were greatly facilitated by the high concentrations available, and they ascertained the imogolite-like structure of the nanotubes. Simplicity and yield of the synthesis protocol are likely to favor commercial applications of theses materials as well as simplified syntheses of other nanophases.

Shielding Nanowires and Nanotubes with Imogolite: A Route to Nanocables

“…However, a general approach to constructing nanocables with a large variety of core materials, controllable size and morphology, and also high yield, has not yet been found. Inorganic nanotubes such as imogolite [13,14] and their isotopological structures [15][16][17] have not yet been discussed as a sheathing material, even though they may be the ideal materials for this task: They are intrinsically monodisperse, have well-defined length, are nonconducting, are available at low cost, and can be exposed to an aqueous environment.…”

“…The tube diameter is determined by the stoichiometry of the material and can be tailored, for example, by substituting Ge for Si atoms. [15,17,20] Even though various applications of imogolite tubes have been proposed so far, [21][22][23][24] the research effort given to this material is much less extensive than that for other nanotube types. In particular, investigations of possible applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices are still at a very preliminary stage.…”

Clay Mineral Nanotubes: Stability, Structure and Properties

“…The fact that the synthesis occurs in aqueous solution means that the pH and, consequently, the involved species acidic constants (pKa=-log(Ka)) are very important and guide the hydrolysis. Recently, the imogolite-like structure aluminogermanate has been synthesized (Levard et al, 2008;Levard et al, 2010). Here, the SiO 4 4-is replaced by GeO 4 4-fragments.…”

“…The synthesis of new imogolite-like structures is an important issue and deserves more attention. Actually, the aluminogermanate NTs (Levard et al, 2008;Levard et al, 2010) are an important example of the feasibility of this task and more effort in this direction must be done. In fact, lamellar gibbsite can be seen as a template for modeling and synthesizing new nanostructured imogolite-like structures.…”

Synthesis of Inorganic Nanotubes

“…[172] The solution-liquid-solid (SLS) method has been exploited to obtain tin-filled In(OH) 3 nanotubes using liquid droplets of an In-Sn mixture. [173] Nanotubes and how they are formed of other complex oxides reported are: In 2 Ge 2 O 7 by thermal evaporation, [174] InVO 4 nanotubes using templates, [175] WO 3 ÀH 2 O nanotubes with the aid of intercalated polyaniline, [176] chrysotile nanotubes by the hydrothermal method, [177] aluminogermanate nanotubes by a simple solution procedure, [178] a-FeOOH nanotubes by employing reverse micelles, [179] boehmite nanotubes by a hydrothermal procedure, [180] and hydroxyapatite nanotubes by a sol-gel procedure in an AM. [181] La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 nanotubes have been prepared using an AM template by the sol-gel method, [182] while ZnAl 2 O 4 spinel nanotubes have been obtained by making use of the Kirkendall effect.…”