Self-arrangement of nanoparticles toward crystalline metal oxides with high surface areas and tunable 3D mesopores.

ABSTRACT: We demonstrate a new design concept where the interaction between silica nanoparticles (about 1.5 nm in diameter) with titania nanoparticles (anatase, about 4 nm or 6 nm in diameter) guides a successful formation of mesoporous titania with crystalline walls and controllable porosity. At an appropriate solution pH (~1.5, depending on the deprotonation tendencies of two types of nanoparticles), the smaller silica nanoparticles, which attach to the surface of the larger titania nanoparticles and provide a portion of inactive surface and reactive surface of titania nanoparticles, dictate the direction and the degree of condensation of the titania nanoparticles, resulting in a porous 3D framework. Further crystallization by a hydrothermal treatment and subsequent removal of silica nanoparticles

SUBMITTER: Lee HI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4759599 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature