Abstract
Nano-porous metallic matrixes (NMMs) offer superior surface to volume ratios as well as enhanced optical, photonic, and electronic properties to bulk metallic materials. Such behaviours are correlated to the nano-scale inter-grain metal domains that favour the presence of electronic vacancies. In this work, continuous 3D NMMs were synthesized for the first time through a simple diffusion-reduction process whereby the aerogel matrix was functionalized with (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane. The surface energy of the silica monolith templates was tuned to improve the homogeneity of the reduction process while thiol functionalization facilitated the formation of a high density of seeding points for metal ions to reduce. The diameter of NMMs was between 2 and 1000 nm, corresponding to a silver loading between 1.23 and 41.16 at.%. A rates of catalytic degradation kinetics of these NMMS which is three orders of magnitude higher than those of the non-functionalized silver-silica structures. Furthermore, the enhancement in mechanical stability at nanoscale which was evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy force measurements, electronic density and chemical inertness was assessed and critically correlated to their catalytic potential. This strategy opens up new avenues for design of complex architectures of either single or multi-metal alloy NMMs with enhanced surface properties for various applications.
Highlights
Well as trace metal contamination present within the boundaries between metal grains, or metal organization and association including alloying effects within crystal lattices
Formation of fine and stable nano-porous shells, particles, tubes, whiskers, foils and frameworks was previously reported, primarily through bottom-up synthesis techniques involving the reductions of metal ions across a suitable template, and through top-down routes by de-alloying of particles or thin films[16]
The growth mechanism of the Nano-porous metallic matrixes (NMMs) follows a direct pathway first involving the homogeneous nucleation of Ag atoms[20], prior to progressive growth of silver nanoparticles that bridges into a continuous network
Summary
Well as trace metal contamination present within the boundaries between metal grains, or metal organization and association including alloying effects within crystal lattices. The design of NMMs is, typically hindered from specific interactions between metal ions and functional groups across the surface of the template, as well as from confinement phenomena. Continuous 3D NMMs were synthesized for the first time across functionalized nano-porous silica monoliths with a novel and extremely simple diffusion-reduction process. The homogeneity of the reduction procedure was found to be largely dependent on the surface energy of the silica framework and on the presence of favourable seeding points for the reduction of metal ions. The application of these NMMs as catalytic reactors for the remediation of toxic bio-chemicals is demonstrated with extremely high kinetics. The enhancement in mechanical stability at the nanoscale, evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation, the electronic density, and chemical inertness was assessed and critically correlated to their catalytic potential
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