Metal Oxide Aerogels Produced at Ambient Pressure

9971534 harris这个项目将探索在环境压力下进行的新的气凝胶处理方案的基础科学。两个目标是：(1)对最近获得专利的DSB（Deshpande, Smith, and Brinker）工艺非常重要的表面化学有更全面的了解，(2)将处理化学从DSB工艺的重点二氧化硅扩展到其他三种具有重要技术意义的金属氧化物系统，即二氧化钛，钒和氧化铝。各种衍生化化学将应用于三种新的氧化物体系，然后将使用各种技术进行表征，包括核磁共振，拉曼和红外光谱，以及原子力显微镜。能够成功转化为气凝胶状态的新材料可能与技术应用领域具有高度相关性：二氧化钛是一种光催化剂，可以通过光降解来减轻水污染的影响；钒是一种极有潜力的正极材料，可以优化锂电解质电池的性能；氧化铝在催化转化器中也有应用。要评估的每一种新的气凝胶材料都将涉及对目前对工业具有高价值的技术领域的学生的培训。

9971534HarrisThis project will explore the fundamental science that underpins a new aerogel processing scheme conducted at ambient pressure. The two objectives are (1) to develop a more complete understanding of the surface chemistry that is so important to a recently patented process referred to as the DSB(Deshpande, Smith, and Brinker) process, and (2) to extend that processing chemistry beyond silica, which is the focus of the DSB process, to three other metal oxide systems of technological importance, viz., titania, vanadia, and alumina. Various derivitization chemistries will be applied to each of the three new oxide systems which will then be characterized using a variety of techniques that include nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman and infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.%%%New materials that can be successfully converted to the aerogel state may have high relevance to technological applications areas: titania is a photocatalyst that can be used to mitigate by photodegradation the effects of water pollution; vanadia is a potential cathode material that may optimize the performance of lithium electrolyte batteries; and alumina has uses in catalytic converter applications. Each new aerogel material to be evaluated will involve the training of students in technology areas that are currently of high value to industry.