Preparation of MEMO silane-coated SiO2 nanoparticles under high pressure of carbon dioxide and ethanol

Preparation and High-Temperature Resistance Properties of Phenolic Resin/Phosphate Hybrid Coatings

In this study, a novel fabrication method was used to synthesize phenolic resin/phosphate hybrid coatings using aluminum dihydrogen phosphate (Al(H2PO4)3, hereafter denoted as Al), SC101 silica sol (Si) as the primary film-forming agent, and phenolic resin (PF) as the organic matrix. This approach culminated in the formation of Al+Si+PF organo-inorganic hybrid coatings. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed the successful integration of hybrid structures within these coatings. The crystalline structure of the coatings post-cured at various temperatures was elucidated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the surface and cross-sectional morphologies were meticulously analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), offering insights into the microstructural properties of the coatings. The coatings' porosities under diverse thermal and temporal regimes were quantitatively evaluated using advanced image processing techniques, revealing a significant reduction in porosity to a minimum of 5.88% following a thermal oxidation process at 600 °C for 10 h. The antioxidant efficacy of the phosphate coatings was rigorously assessed through cyclic oxidation tests, which revealed their outstanding performance. Specifically, at 300 °C across 300 h of cyclic oxidation, the weight losses recorded for phosphate varnish and the phenolic resin-infused phosphate coatings were 0.15 mg·cm-2 and 0.09 mg·cm-2, respectively. Furthermore, at 600 °C and over an identical period, the weight reduction was noted as 0.21 mg·cm-2 for phosphate varnish and 0.085 mg·cm-2 for the hybrid coatings, thereby substantiating the superior antioxidation capabilities of the phenolic resin hybrid coatings in comparison to the pure phosphate varnish.

Modification of CaCO3 and CaCO3 pin-coated cellulose paper under supercritical carbon dioxide-ethanol mixture for enhanced NO2 capture

In this work, we examine two modifications of fine-ground calcium carbonate material (GCC) in order to enhanced sorption of NO₂ and subsequent reaction properties toward NO₂^-/NO₃^- formation by firstly exposing the GCC to supercritical (sc) CO₂ in order to increase particle surface area, a choice specifically made to avoid altering the surface chemistry, and secondly considering the potential advantage of using a surface coupling agent toward NO₂. The modification by the coupling agent amino silane (AMEO silane) was applied in a supercritical CO₂-ethanol mixture. The samples were characterised before and after modification by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), specific surface area determination (BET nitrogen adsorption), ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and ion chromatography to reveal the effects of the surface modification(s) on the morphology, surface textural properties and sorption versus reaction properties with NO₂. The performance of the treated sorbents for NO₂ capture was evaluated at room temperature. Results show that reactivity of NO₂ with GCC was observed to increase as a function of increased surface area resulting from scCO₂ exposure, but that the presence of AMEO silane on the surface, while enhancing initial adsorption of NO₂ was seen subsequently to act to block reactivity. Thus, judicious use of coupling agent can provide desired rapid initial adsorption of the gas, but the goal of long-term CaCO₃-consuming reactivity, so as to prolong the uptake of NO₂ beyond surface saturation alone, is achieved by increasing surface area while retaining chemical-free exposed CaCO₃ surface.

Silicone Resin Coating of Micro-Sized Ferrite Particles Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

An environmentally friendly and efficient polymer coating method for micro-sized particles was developed using supercritical CO₂. Because this method used supercritical CO₂ as the solvent to dissolve the coating material, we avoided environmental pollution from organic solvents, saved the energy required to evaporate/remove organic solvents, realized a uniform coating film on the fine particles, and prevented agglomeration of the coating particles. The solubilities of the five silicone resins used as coating materials were measured using the flow method, and the data were well correlated by Chrastil’s equation with an average deviation of 5.7%. Resins comprising numerous methyl-group side chains exhibited high solubilities and were suitable coating materials. A new semi-flow-type coating method using supercritical CO₂ was also developed, which deposited a film with a uniform thickness of 0.2–1.3 μm on whole fine particles. Notably, in this method, the film thickness was easily controlled. A simple and rapid technique was developed for measuring the coating thickness using X-ray fluorescence analysis. The model for calculating the coating film thickness was based on the material balance of the coating material. This model satisfactorily predicted the thickness with an average error of 0.085 μm by measuring the solubility of the coating material in supercritical CO₂, integrated flow volume of supercritical CO₂, particle diameter, density and charged weight of the fine particle, and coating material density.

Surface Properties of Alkoxysilane Layers Grafted in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Silicon oxide surface properties can be easily modified by grafting alkoxysilane molecules. Here, we studied the structure and the morphology of ultrathin layers prepared by the grafting of alkoxysilanes having different head groups (thiol, amine, and iodo) in supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) on model plane silicon oxide surfaces. Several characterization techniques (X-ray reflectivity, water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM)) were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the layers prepared at different temperatures. Moreover, for the first time, AFM peak force measurements were used to delve deeper into the determination of the structure of these ultrathin alkoxysilane layers. The results show that the grafting temperature and the nature of the head group strongly affect the morphology and structure of the grafted layers. Dense monolayers are obtained with 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane at 60 °C, polycondensed layers are always prepared with [3-(aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane, and a dense bilayer is synthesized with 3-(iodopropyl)triethoxysilane at 120 °C.

Cross-linked Composite Gel Polymer Electrolyte using Mesoporous Methacrylate-Functionalized SiO2 Nanoparticles for Lithium-Ion Polymer Batteries

Liquid electrolytes composed of lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents have been widely used for lithium-ion batteries. However, the high flammability of the organic solvents can lead to thermal runaway and explosions if the system is accidentally subjected to a short circuit or experiences local overheating. In this work, a cross-linked composite gel polymer electrolyte was prepared and applied to lithium-ion polymer cells as a safer and more reliable electrolyte. Mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles containing reactive methacrylate groups as cross-linking sites were synthesized and dispersed into the fibrous polyacrylonitrile membrane. They directly reacted with gel electrolyte precursors containing tri(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, resulting in the formation of a cross-linked composite gel polymer electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and favorable interfacial characteristics. The mesoporous SiO₂ particles also served as HF scavengers to reduce the HF content in the electrolyte at high temperature. As a result, the cycling performance of the lithium-ion polymer cells with cross-linked composite gel polymer electrolytes employing methacrylate-functionalized mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles was remarkably improved at elevated temperatures.