Study of the Formation of the Mesoporous Material SBA-15 by EPR Spectroscopy

The use of EPR spectroscopy to study transcription mechanisms

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has become a promising structural biology tool to resolve complex and dynamic biological mechanisms in-vitro and in-cell. Here, we focus on the advantages of continuous wave (CW) and pulsed EPR distance measurements to resolve transcription processes and protein-DNA interaction. The wide range of spin-labeling approaches that can be used to follow structural changes in both protein and DNA render EPR a powerful method to study protein-DNA interactions and structure-function relationships in other macromolecular complexes. EPR-derived data goes well beyond static structural information and thus serves as the method of choice if dynamic insight is needed. Herein, we describe the conceptual details of the theory and the methodology and illustrate the use of EPR to study the protein-DNA interaction of the copper-sensitive transcription factor, CueR.

Morphology-transport relationships for SBA-15 and KIT-6 ordered mesoporous silicas

Quantitative morphology-transport relationships are derived for ordered mesoporous silicas through direct numerical simulation of hindered diffusion in realistic geometrical models of the pore space obtained from physical reconstruction by electron tomography. We monitor accessible porosity and effective diffusion coefficients resulting from steric and hydrodynamic interactions between passive tracers and the pore space confinement as a function of λ = d_tracer/d_meso (ratio of tracer diameter to mean mesopore diameter) in SBA-15 (d_meso = 9.1 nm) and KIT-6 (d_meso = 10.5 nm) silica samples. For λ = 0, the pointlike tracers reproduce the true diffusive tortuosities. For 0 ≤λ < 0.5, the derived hindrance factor quantifies the extent to which diffusion of finite-size tracers through the materials is hindered compared with free diffusion in the bulk liquid. The hindrance factor connects the transport properties of the ordered silicas to their mesopore space morphologies and enables quantitative comparison with random mesoporous silicas. Key feature of the ordered silicas is a narrow, symmetric mesopore size distribution (∼10% relative standard deviation), which engenders a sharper decline of the accessible-porosity window with increasing λ than observed for random silicas with their wide, asymmetric mesopore size distributions. As support structures, ordered mesoporous silicas should offer benefits for applications where spatial confinement effects and molecular size-selectivity are of prime importance. On the other hand, random mesoporous silicas enable higher diffusivities for λ > 0.3, because the larger pores carry most of the diffusive flux and keep pathways open when smaller pores have closed off.

The Effect of Temperature and Time of the Hydrothermal Treatment in the SBA-15 Synthesis Process on the Structure and Textural Properties and the Ability to Reduce the Evolution of Tars in Tobacco Smoking

Different SBA-15 (SBA, Santa Barbara Amorphous) materials were synthetized at different temperature and time during of the hydrothermal treatment. The obtained SBA-15 were characterized by N2 adsorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (DRX), and density in order to establish the influence of these variables on their properties. Mixtures of the obtained catalysts with 3R4F tobacco were prepared and smoked under the ISO 3308 conditions. Temperature of the hydrothermal treatment slightly affects the tars that evolved in the smoking process of the corresponding catalyst tobacco mixtures. Contrarily, the time of the hydrothermal treatment has a marked effect on the reductions of toxic compounds in the smoke. Developed porosity has a positive correlation with the observed tar reduction, whereas the apparent density has a negative correlation with the reduction in toxicity. Moreover, the removal of the supernatant liquors during the hydrothermal treatment does not strongly modify the properties of the materials and may represent an interesting simplification of the process.

TiO2/porous adsorbents: Recent advances and novel applications

This article reviews two interrelated areas of research: the first is the use of TiO₂-supported adsorbent materials as enhanced heterogeneous photocatalysts and their application to various reactions for organic pollutant removal from air and water; the second is the combination of adsorbent materials with TiO₂ photocatalysts which aims to efficiently regenerate adsorbent materials using illumination. By reviewing both areas of research, the following topics are covered; (i) photocatalytic activation of TiO_2; (ii) related properties of photocatalytic TiO_2; (iii) shortcomings of photocatalytic processes; (iv) preparation methods of composite TiO₂/adsorbent materials and their photocatalytic performance; (v) properties of common adsorbents and their applications for pollutant removal from air and water; (vi) adsorbent regeneration methods and their economic and operational issues; (vii) conclusions and future outlooks. This topic has not been previously reviewed to such an extent, and considerable knowledge can be gained from assembling the large number of studies on adsorption-photocatalysis combinations. As such, this review provides guidance for researchers working in the fields of environmental and chemical engineering focussing on organic pollutant removal and the engineering of new high performance photocatalytic TiO₂-supported porous adsorbent materials.

Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Dendritic Fibrous Nanosilica

We studied the formation mechanism of dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) that involves several intriguing dynamical steps. Through electron microscopy and real-time small-angle X-ray scattering studies, it has been demonstrated that the structural evolution of bicontinuous microemulsion droplets (BMDs) and their subsequent coalescence, yielding nanoreactor template, is responsible for to the formation of complex DFNS morphology. The role of cosurfactant has been found to be quite crucial, which allowed the understanding of this intricate mechanism involving the complex interplay of self-assembly, dynamics of BMDs formation, and coalescence. The role of BMDs in formation of DFNS has not been reported so far and the present work allows a deeper molecular-level understanding of DFNS formation.

Silica-supported Au@hollow-SiO2 particles with outstanding catalytic activity prepared via block copolymer template approach

Catalytically active Au@hollow-SiO₂ particles embedded in porous silica support (Au@hollow-SiO₂@PSS) were prepared by using spherical micelles from poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) block copolymer as a sacrificial template. Drastic increase of the shell porosity was observed after pyrolytic removal of polymeric template because the stretched poly(4-vinyl pyridine) chains interpenetrating with silica shell acted as an effective porogen. The embedding of Au@hollow-SiO₂ particles in porous silica support prevented their fusion during pyrolysis. The catalytic activity of Au@hollow-SiO₂@PSS was investigated using a model reaction of catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and reductive degradation of Congo red azo-dye. Significantly, to the best of our knowledge, Au@hollow-SiO₂@PSS catalyst shows the highest activity among analogous systems reported till now in literature. Such high activity was attributed to the presence of multiple pores within silica shell of Au@hollow-SiO₂ particles and easy accessibility of reagents to the catalytically active sites of the ligand-free gold surface through the porous silica support.

The effect of micellization on the EPR spectra and reactivity of 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TEMPO) radicals

A series of 4-alkanoyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl radicals was prepared, and their reactivity in water vis-à-vis antioxidant Trolox was compared. Spectral (electron paramagnetic resonance) and dynamic-light-scattering measurements suggested the formation of micelles for the more hydrophobic members of the series. The observed increase in reactivity for the micelle-forming radicals reflected the increased local concentration of the radical fragment on the micellar interface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An ultrathin 2D semi-ordered mesoporous silica film: co-operative assembly and application

A novel ultrathin silica film with semi-ordered fingerprint-like mesopores is synthesized with the aid of the dual templates of graphene oxide (go) and tri-block copolymer P123.

A novel approach to formulate high flux multifunctional ultrafiltration membranes from photocatalytic titania composite precursors on multi-channel tubular substrates

Anatase rich titanium dioxide ultrafiltration membranes with high filtration rates have been successfully developed on multi-channel tubular alumina substrates via aqueous sol–gel method from titania–alumina composite precursors.

The dynamic association processes leading from a silica precursor to a mesoporous SBA-15 material

During the last two decades, the synthesis of silica with an ordered mesoporous structure has been thoroughly explored. The basis of the synthesis is to let silica monomers polymerize in the presence of an amphiphilic template component. In the first studies, cationic surfactants were used as structure inducer. Later it was shown that pluronic copolymers also could have the role. One advantage with the pluronics copolymers is that they allow for a wider variation in the radius of pores in the resulting silica material. Another advantage lies in the higher stability resulting from the thicker walls between the pores. Mesoporous silica has a very high area to volume ratio, and the ordered structure ensures surface homogeneity. There are a number of applications of this type of material. It can be used as support for catalysts, as templates to produces other mesoporous inorganic materials, or in controlled release applications. The synthesis of mesoporous silica is, from a practical point of view, simple, but there are significant possibilities to vary synthesis conditions with a concomitant effect on the properties of the resulting material. It is clear that the structural properties on the nanometer scale are determined by the self-assembly properties of the amphiphile, and this knowledge has been used to optimize pore geometry and pore size. To have a practical functional material it is desirable to also control the structure on a micrometer scale and larger. In practice, one has largely taken an empirical approach in optimizing reaction conditions, paying less attention to underlying chemical and physicochemical mechanisms that lead from starting conditions to the final product. In this Account, we present our systematic studies of the processes involved not only in the formation of the mesoporous structure as such, but also of the formation of structures on the micrometer scale. The main point is to show how the ongoing silica polymerization triggers a sequence of structural changes through the action of colloidal interactions. Our approach is to use a multitude of experimental methods to characterize the time evolution of the same highly reproducible synthesis process. It is the silica polymerization reactions that set the time scale, and the block copolymer self-assembly responds to the progress of the polymerization through a basically hydrophobic interaction between silica and ethylene oxide units. The progression of the silica polymerization leads to an increased hydrophobicity triggering an aggregation process resulting in the formation of silica-copolymer composite particles of increasing size. The particle growth occurs in a stepwise way caused by intricate shifts between colloidal stability and instability. By tuning reaction conditions one can have an end product of hexagonal prism composite particles with single crystal 2D hexagonal order.

Multiple scale investigation of molecular diffusion inside functionalized porous hosts using a combination of magnetic resonance methods

Diffusion in organo-functionalized porous hosts could be tracked by evaluation of spin exchange processes using EPR spectroscopy.

Probing framework–guest interactions in phenylene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica using spin-probe EPR

Spin-probe EPR reveals significant differences in the adsorption of probe molecules in benzene-bridged periodic mesoporous silica with crystal-like or amorphous walls.

Mesoporous silica and organosilica materials — Review of their synthesis and organic functionalization

Mesoporous silica and organosilica materials are a class of nanostructured materials that have porous structures with tunable nanometer pores, large surface areas, high pore volumes, and, in some cases, well-ordered mesostructures. Furthermore, in the case of mesoporous organosilicas, the materials possess various types of organic functional groups. This review highlights the different synthetic methods developed for mesoporous silica and organosilica nanomaterials. The review also discusses the various synthetic strategies used to functionalize the surfaces of mesoporous silica materials and produce highly functionalized mesoporous materials. Rational design and synthetic methods developed to place judiciously chosen one or more than one type of functional group(s) on the surfaces of mesoporous silica materials and generate monofunctional and multifunctional mesoporous silica materials are also introduced. These organic functionalization methods have made possible the synthesis of organically functionalized mesoporous silicas and mesoporous organosilicas with various interesting properties and many potential applications in different areas, ranging from catalysis to drug delivery and biosensing.

Direct synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbons

Ordered mesoporous carbon materials have recently aroused great research interest because of their widespread applications in many areas such as adsorbents, catalysts and supports, gas storage hosts, and electrode materials. The direct synthesis strategy from organic-organic self-assembly involving the combination of polymerizable precursors and block copolymer templates is expected to be more flexible in preparing mesoporous carbons, compared with the traditional nanocasting strategy of complicated and high-cost procedures using mesoporous silica materials as the hard template. In this review, we present the fundamentals and recent advances related to the field of ordered mesoporous carbon materials from the direct synthesis strategy of block copolymer soft-templating, with a focus on their controllable preparation, modification and potential applications. Under the guidance of their formation mechanism, the preparation of ordered mesoporous carbons are discussed in detail by consulting different experimental conditions, including synthetic pathways, precursors, catalysts and templates. Both the mesopore size and morphology control are introduced. The potential applications of pure mesoporous carbons, nonmetallic- and metallic-modified mesoporous carbons, and some interpenetrating carbon-based composites are demonstrated. Furthermore, remarks on the challenges and perspectives of research directions are proposed for further development of the ordered mesoporous carbons (232 references).

Short-range interactions between surfactants, silica species and EDTA⁴- salt during self-assembly of siliceous mesoporous molecular sieve: a UV Raman study

The effects of surfactants, counterions and additive salts on the formation of siliceous mesoporous molecular sieves during self-assembly process were investigated by UV Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The surfactant molecules experience the rearrangement after adding the silica species and adjusting the pH value. The obvious change of the Raman bands related to the surfactants supports a cooperative interaction between surfactant and inorganic species during self-assembly process. The addition of EDTANa(4) to the system induces the interaction between the COO(-) groups of EDTA(4-) and silanol groups of silica and a strong interaction between the EDTA(4-) and the N(+)(CH(3))(3) groups of the surfactant. The above interactions may be the main reason for the salt effect. The new information from the change of the chemical bonds allows for a further analysis to the interactions of different salts between surfactants and silica species at molecular level.

Transient colloidal stability controls the particle formation of SBA-15

A hypothesis about (transient) colloidal stability as a controlling mechanism for particle formation in SBA-15 is presented. The hypothesis is based on results from both in situ and ex situ investigations, including cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Cryo-TEM images show that particles grow via the formation of silica-Pluronic-water "flocs", which coalesce in a seemingly arbitrary manner. Despite this, the final material consists of well-defined particles with a small size distribution. We argue that the interface between the flocs and surrounding media is covered by Pluronic molecules, which provide steric stabilization. As the flocs grow, the coverage of polymers at the interface is increased until a stable size is reached, and that regulates the particle size. By targeting the characteristics of the Pluronic molecules, during the on-going synthesis, the hypothesis is tested. The results are consistent with the concept of (transient) colloidal stability.

The role played by salts in the formation of SBA-15, an in situ small-angle X-ray scattering/diffraction study

The influence of salts (NaCl, NaBr, and NaI) on the formation of mesoporous silica SBA-15 was studied in situ by small-angle X-ray scattering and diffraction. Pluronic P104 was used as structure director. The micellar properties and the dynamics of formation were clearly dependent on the presence of salt. It was also shown that the kinetics of mesophase formation, the initial value of the cell parameters, and the extent of long-range order were all influenced by salt additions. The observations are explained to primarily originate from the influence of the anions on the ethylene oxide part of the polymer, i.e., the corona region of the Pluronic micelles. Two effects are identified: a general ion effect causing dehydration of the ethylene oxide part and consequently inducing micellar growth, and a specific ion effect that counterbalances this. The study provides the basis for understanding the means by which addition of simple Na-salts influence the formation of mesoscopically ordered silicas synthesized using nonionic surfactants as structure directors, hence advancing the knowledge base toward a more rational design of mesoporous materials.

In situ observation of the genesis of mesoporous silica SBA-15: dynamics on length scales from 1 nm to 1 microm

We report on the mechanism of growth of mesoporous silica (SBA-15, plane group p6m). In situ studies of the formation using ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) covering length scales from 5 to 10,000 A, complemented with UV-vis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), provide unique data on particle growth coupled with information regarding the progression of the mesostructure formation and the micellar evolution.

Electron-tomography determination of the packing structure of macroporous ordered siliceous foams assembled from vesicles

The packing structures of macroporous ordered siliceous foams (MOSFs) are systematically investigated by using a 3D electron tomography technique and the nanostructural characteristics for layered MOSFs are resolved. MOSF materials adopt an ordered 2D hexagonal arrangement in single-layered areas, regular honeycomb patterns in double-layered samples, and polyhedric cells similar to a Weaire-Phelan structure in multilayered areas, all following the principle of minimizing surface area, which is well understood in soap foams at the macroscopic scale. In surfactant-templated materials, liquid-crystal templating is generally applied, but here it is revealed that the surface-area-minimization principle can also be applied, which facilitates the design and synthesis of novel macroporous materials using surfactant molecules as templates.

Aggregation and self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous dispersions of carbon nanotubes

The self-assembly (SA) of amphiphilic block copolymers (poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)) was investigated in dispersions of single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT and MWNT, respectively) as a function of temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used for characterization of the thermal behavior of the combined polymers-nanostructures system, and spin-probe electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was employed for probing the local dynamic and polarity of the polymer chains in the presence of nanostructures. It was found that SWNT and MWNT modify the temperature, enthalpy, and dynamic behavior of polymer SA. In particular, SWNT were found to increase the cooperativity of aggregating chains and dominate aggregate dynamics. MWNT reduced the cooperativity, while colloidal carbon black additives, studied for comparison, did not show similar effects. The experimental observations are consistent with the suggestion that dimensional matching between the characteristic radius of the solvated polymer chains and the dimensions of additives dominate polymer SA in the hybrid system.

Self-assembly of pluronic block copolymers in aqueous dispersions of single-wall carbon nanotubes as observed by spin probe EPR

The self-assembly of Pluronic block copolymers in dispersions of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) was investigated by spin probe electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Nitroxide spin labeled block copolymers derived from Pluronic L62 and P123 were introduced in minute amounts into the dispersions. X-band EPR spectra of the SWNT dispersions and of native polymer solutions were measured as a function of temperature. All spectra, below and above the critical micelle temperature (CMT), were characteristic of the fast limit motional regime. The temperature dependence of the 14N isotropic hyperfine coupling, aiso, and the rotational correlation time, tauc, were determined. It was observed that, below the CMT, EPR does not distinguish between chains adsorbed on SWNT and free chains. Above CMT, substantial differences were observed: in the native solution, the Pluronics spin labels experience only one environment, Sm, assigned to spin labels in the corona of the Pluronic micelle, whereas in the SWNT dispersions, in addition to Sm, a second population of nonaggregated, individual chains, Si, is observed. The relative amounts of Sm and Si were found to depend on the relative concentrations of the Pluronic and SWNT. Furthermore, the aggregates formed in the SWNT dispersions do not show the typical increase in chain-end mobility as a function of temperature, observed in the post-CMT regime of the native Pluronic solutions. This suggests a larger dynamical coupling among aggregated chains in the presence of the SWNT as compared to the native micelles. The overall findings are consistent with the formation of a new type of aggregates, composed of a SWNT-polymer hybrid.

Controlling interfacial curvature in nanoporous silica films formed by evaporation-induced self-assembly from nonionic surfactants. I. Evolution of nanoscale structures in coating solutions

The double-gyroid phase of nanoporous silica films formed by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) has been shown to possess facile mass-transport properties and may be used as a robust template for the nanofabrication of metal and semiconductor nanostructures. Recently, we developed a new synthesis of double-gyroid nanoporous silica films where the aging time of the coating solution prior to EISA was the key parameter required to control the interfacial curvature that results upon self-assembly of the film. Here, we use 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to investigate the nanoscale structure of the coating solutions used to obtain double-gyroid nanoporous silica films. NMR and SAXS were carried out on the water, ethanol, silica, and poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-alkyl (EO17-PO12-C14) surfactant coating solutions as well as similar solutions that excluded either the silica or the surfactant. NMR data reveal that the silica monomers in the coating solution condense very rapidly to form rings and connected ring species. After 1 day of aging, all monomers and dimers have disappeared, and the distribution is dominated by Q2 and Q3 species, where the superscript in Qn describes the number of silicon atoms in the second coordination shell of the central silicon. Over the course of the next 9 days, the Q3 population slowly rises at the expense of the Q2 and Q3t populations. Absolute intensity SAXS measurements reveal that the size of the silica clusters increases steadily during this aging period, reaching an average radius of gyration of 9.0 A after 9 days of aging. Longer aging results in the continued growth of clusters with a mass fractal dimension of 1.8. Absolute intensity SAXS data also reveals that micelles are not present in the coating solution. At 9% volume fraction of surfactant, the coating solution is far above the aqueous critical micellar concentration. However, even a small amount of ethanol inhibits micellization. SAXS data also shows that when surfactant is present the radius of gyration is larger but increases more slowly. This indicates that there are weak associative interactions between the silica clusters and surfactant in solution that reduce the cluster-cluster growth rate. In part II of this work, we use the results discovered here to interpret the effects of aging on interfacial curvature in the nanostructured films that self-assemble from these solutions.

Designed synthesis of mesoporous solids via nonionic-surfactant-templating approach

The continual needs for improved performances in applications derived by diversified compositions and mesostructures have pushed forward the development of mesoporous solids. The nonionic-surfactant-templating approach has been a critical route in this advancement. A large number of nonionic surfactants widely used in industries and featured with low cost, low toxicity, bio-degradation and ordered microdomains can be utilized as effective templates to the design and synthesis of abundant mesoporous solids. This feature article provides recent reports on the use of nonionic surfactant self-assembly as examples to fabricate high-quality ordered mesoporous solids which illustrates advances in synthesis and understanding of formation mechanisms. It includes the selection of surfactants, a summary of the effects of synthetic parameters, the current understanding of the synthetic pathways and related mechanisms with some emphasis on evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA), as well as the design and synthesis on the microscale (atomic and molecular compositions) and mesoscale (mesostructures). Preliminary applications of mesoporous solids particularly in optical devices, electrodes and biomaterials are also presented.

Distance measurements between paramagnetic centers and a planar object by matrix Mims electron nuclear double resonance

Frequency-domain electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), two time-domain electron nuclear double resonance techniques, and electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy are compared with respect to their merit in measurements of small hyperfine couplings to nuclei with intermediate gyromagnetic ratio such as 31P. The frequency-domain Mims ENDOR experiment is found to provide the most faithful line shapes. In the limit of long electron-nuclear distances of more than 0.5 nm, sensitivity of this experiment is optimized by matching the first interpulse delay to the transverse relaxation time of the electron spins. In the same limit, Mims ENDOR efficiency scales inversely with the sixth power of distance. Hyperfine splittings as small as 33 kHz can be detected, corresponding to an electron-31P distance of 1 nm. In systems, where a certain kind of nuclei is distributed in a plane, measurements of intermolecular hyperfine couplings can be analyzed in terms of a distance of closest approach of a paramagnetic center to that plane. By applying this technique to spin-labeled lipids in a fully hydrated lipid bilayer it is found that for a fraction of lipids, chain tilt angles can be 25 degrees larger than the mean tilt angle of the lipid chains. This model of all-trans hydrocarbon chains with a broad distribution of tilt angles is also consistent with orientation selection effects in high-field ENDOR spectra.