Nanostructural and Morphological Control of Ruthenium Compounds Templated by Surfactant Assemblies

• Published in: Crystal growth & design 2009-12, Vol.9 (12), p.5092-5100
• Main Authors: Inoue, Yuko, Ohtsuka, Seiji, Torikai, Toshio, Watari, Takanori, Yada, Mitsunori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; Physics; Porous materials; granular materials; Precipitation; Specific materials
• ISSN: 1528-7483; 1528-7505
• DOI: 10.1021/cg900261s

This paper presents the synthesis of nanospherical, hollow spherical, stringlike, and nanotubular mesostructured ruthenium compounds templated by anionic surfactant assemblies by the homogeneous precipitation method using urea. When sodium dodecylsulfate and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were used as a template, nanospherical ruthenium compounds were formed. On the other hand, when a mixture of sodium hexadecylsulfate and octadecylsulfate was used as a template, hollow spherical ruthenium compounds were obtained. Furthermore, when sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate was used as a template, nanospherical, stringlike, and nanotubular ruthenium compounds were synthesized. For example, the nanotube framework comprised a less-ordered mesostructure phase composed of the cationic ruthenium compound with a thickness of 1.4 nm and the anionic bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate phase with a thickness of 1.0 nm. When the nanotubes were calcined in air, they were first transformed into amorphous ruthenium compound nanotubes at 300 °C and subsequently into conductive mesoporous crystalline RuO2 nanotubes at 500 °C. On the other hand, when they were calcined at 700 °C in vacuum, they were transformed into metallic ruthenium nanotubes.