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Nb2O5/SiO2 mesoporous monoliths synthetized by sol–gel process using ammonium niobate oxalate hydrate as porogenic agent

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Abstract

Niobium pentoxide/silica mesoporous monoliths were prepared by using silicon alkoxide and a bifunctional reactant, ammonium niobate (V) oxalate hydrate (NbOXA), as niobium pentoxide precursor and porogenic agent. The influence of the thermal treatment on the structural, textural characteristics of the samples was evaluated. The thermal stability of the porous network was also evaluated. The introduction of the NbOXA in the silica sol–gel network promoted an increase in pore size diameter and in the total pore volume. The Nb2O5 nanoparticles were well dispersed inside the mesoporous silica matrix and their presence prevented the pore shrinking of the nanocomposite monolith at high temperatures, maintaining the total pore volume of the nanocomposites higher than those of the silica xerogels. To test the availability of the mesoporous nanocomposites as photocatalysts, they were submitted to UV light for methylene blue photobleaching, used as a model waste compound. Only the nanocomposite treated at 900 °C showed morphology and textural proprieties adequate to be photoactive.

Silica/niobium pentoxide composite monoliths with high specific surface area and high pore volume in the range of mesopores, synthesized in one step with high dispersed nanoparticles inside the matrix.

Highlights

  1. 1.

    Ammonium niobium (V) oxalate was used as porogenic agent in the preparation of monoliths of Nb2O5/SiO2 mesoporous nanocomposites.

  2. 2.

    Nb2O5 nanoparticles were well dispersed inside the mesoporous silica matrix.

  3. 3.

    Nb2O5/SiO2 nanocomposites were synthetized with high mesoporosity and good photocatalytic property.

  4. 4.

    The stability of the Nb2O5/SiO2 mesoporous nanocomposites was confirmed by the high specific surface areas obtained at high calcination temperatures.

  5. 5.

    The Nb(V) octahedral coordination of the N2O5 nanoparticles formed inside the nanocomposites was elucidated by EELS.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by CNPq, CAPES, and FAPEMIG (Brazilian agencies). The authors acknowledge Center of Microscopy at UFMG for the infrastructure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nanostructured Materials, Chemistry Department, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Luiz Fernando de Sousa Lima, Cintia Rodrigues Coelho, Gustavo Henrique Magalhães Gomes & Nelcy Della Santina Mohallem

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  1. Luiz Fernando de Sousa Lima
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  2. Cintia Rodrigues Coelho
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  3. Gustavo Henrique Magalhães Gomes
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  4. Nelcy Della Santina Mohallem
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Correspondence to Nelcy Della Santina Mohallem.

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Lima, L.F.d.S., Coelho, C.R., Gomes, G.H.M. et al. Nb2O5/SiO2 mesoporous monoliths synthetized by sol–gel process using ammonium niobate oxalate hydrate as porogenic agent. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 93, 168–174 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05146-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05146-5

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