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Article
Tuning surface properties of amino-functionalized silica for metal nanoparticle loading: The vital role of an annealing process
Surface Science
  • Yuchen Pei, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Chaoxian Xiao, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Tian Wei Goh, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Qianhui Zhang, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Shannon Goes, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Weijun Sun, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Wenyu Huang, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
6-1-2016
DOI
10.1016/j.susc.2015.10.019
Abstract

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) loaded on oxides have been widely used as multifunctional nanomaterials in various fields such as optical imaging, sensors, and heterogeneous catalysis. However, the deposition of metal NPs on oxide supports with high efficiency and homogeneous dispersion still remains elusive, especially when silica is used as the support. Amino-functionalization of silica can improve loading efficiency, but metal NPs often aggregate on the surface. Herein, we report that a facial annealing of amino-functionalized silica can significantly improve the dispersion and enhance the loading efficiency of various metal NPs, such as Pt, Rh, and Ru, on the silica surface. A series of characterization techniques, such as diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), Zeta potential analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with infrared analysis (TGA–IR), and nitrogen physisorption, were employed to study the changes of surface properties of the amino-functionalized silica before and after annealing. We found that the annealed amino-functionalized silica surface has more cross-linked silanol groups and relatively lesser amount of amino groups, and less positively charges, which could be the key to the uniform deposition of metal NPs during the loading process. These results could contribute to the preparation of metal/oxide hybrid NPs for the applications that require uniform dispersion.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article published as Pei, Yuchen, Chaoxian Xiao, Tian-Wei Goh, Qianhui Zhang, Shannon Goes, Weijun Sun, and Wenyu Huang. "Tuning surface properties of amino-functionalized silica for metal nanoparticle loading: The vital role of an annealing process." Surface Science 648 (2016): 299-306. doi: 10.1016/j.susc.2015.10.019. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
Elsevier B.V.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Yuchen Pei, Chaoxian Xiao, Tian Wei Goh, Qianhui Zhang, et al.. "Tuning surface properties of amino-functionalized silica for metal nanoparticle loading: The vital role of an annealing process" Surface Science Vol. 648 (2016) p. 299 - 306
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/wenyu_huang/46/