In Situ Probing of the Particle-Mediated Mechanism of WO3 -Networked Structures Grown inside Confined Mesoporous Channels.
Small
; 14(4)2018 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29205816
ABSTRACT
Nanocasting, using ordered mesoporous silica or carbon as a hard template, has enormous potential for preparing novel mesoporous materials with new structures and compositions. Although a variety of mesoporous materials have been synthesized in recent years, the growth mechanism of nanostructures in a confined space, such as mesoporous channels, is not well understood, which hampers the controlled synthesis and further application of mesoporous materials. Here, the nucleation and growth of WO3 -networked mesostructures within an ordered mesoporous matrix, using an in situ transmission electron microscopy heating technique and in situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering spectroscopy, are probed. It is found that the formation of WO3 mesostructures involves a particle-mediated transformation and coalescence mechanism. The liquid-like particle-mediated aggregation and mesoscale transformation process can occur in ≈10 nm confined mesoporous channels, which is completely unexpected. The detailed mechanistic study will be of great help for experimental design and to exploit a variety of mesoporous materials for diverse applications, such as catalysis, absorption, separation, energy storage, biomedicine, and nanooptics.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Small
Journal subject:
ENGENHARIA BIOMEDICA
Year:
2018
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China