Synthesis and characterization of a nanocrystalline thoria aerogel

We report the synthesis and characterization for the first example of a low-density nanocrystalline thoria aerogel. The monolithic aerogels were prepared through the sol–gel polymerization of hydrated thorium nitrate in ethanol using ammonium hydroxide and propylene oxide as gelation initiators. The...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of non-crystalline solids 2004-08, Vol.341 (1), p.35-39
Main Authors: Reibold, Robert A., Poco, John F., Baumann, Theodore F., Simpson, Randall L., Satcher, Joe H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AMMONIUM HYDROXIDES
Chemical synthesis methods
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
ETHANOL
Exact sciences and technology
GELATION
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
MATERIALS SCIENCE
Methods of nanofabrication
Nanocrystalline materials
Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization
NITROGEN
OXIDES
Physics
POLYMERIZATION
PROPYLENE
SURFACE AREA
SYNTHESIS
THORIUM NITRATES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We report the synthesis and characterization for the first example of a low-density nanocrystalline thoria aerogel. The monolithic aerogels were prepared through the sol–gel polymerization of hydrated thorium nitrate in ethanol using ammonium hydroxide and propylene oxide as gelation initiators. The dried ThO 2 aerogel was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analyses. The aerogel network was determined to be composed of spherical primary particles with features in the 5–20 nm range. These particles were also determined to be highly crystalline as evidenced by the higher magnification TEM examination. The thoria aerogel possesses high surface area (120 m 2/g) and pore diameters in the micro- and mesoporous range.
ISSN:0022-3093
1873-4812
DOI:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2004.05.008