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Title: Investigating the mesostructure of ordered porous silica nanocomposites by transmission electron microscopy techniques

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4900450· OSTI ID:22308108
;  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (Canada) (Italy)
  2. INSTM and Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (Canada) Italy and KAUST-King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)
  3. INSTM and Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (Canada), Italy and Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton (United Kingdom)
  4. INSTM and Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (Canada) Italy and School of Physical Sciences, Ingram Building, University of Kent, Canterbury (United Kingdom)

Nanocomposites made out of FeCo alloy nanocrystals supported onto pre-formed mesoporous ordered silica which features a cubic arrangement of pores (SBA-16) were investigated. Information on the effect of the nanocrystals on the mesostructure (i.e. pore arrangement symmetry, pore size, and shape) were deduced by a multitechnique approach including N2 physisorption, low angle X-ray diffraction, and Transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques are required, however, to gain direct evidence on key compositional and textural features of the nanocomposites. In particular, electron tomography and microtomy techniques make clear that the FeCo nanocrystals are located within the pores of the SBA-16 silica, and that the ordered mesostructure of the nanocomposite is retained throughout the observed specimen.

OSTI ID:
22308108
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1624, Issue 1; Conference: SIO2014: 10. international symposium on SiO2, advanced dielectrics and related devices, Cagliari (Italy), 16-18 Jun 2014; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English