Organogels, hydrogels, and ionic gels have been investigated both in a theoretical and experimental manner. The research performed was focused on their synthesis and applications in high-performance ...chemistry and its important branches. All mentioned gels were characterized from structural and supramolecular points of view by FTIR, NMR, X-ray diffraction, and POM. The keywords proposed in this reprint were as follows: organogels, hydrogels, ionic gels, chitosan, and fractal analysis. These terms were extremely pertinent to this research piece, hereby presented. As a result, all reference themes, as well as those associated with them, were touched upon in this reprint. We mention that the articles in this selection focused on one or more of the topics listed above.
•A facile and mild sol-gel method to fabricate superhydrophobic cotton fabric.•The surface was prepared by a one-step process with fluorinated TiO2 sols.•Modified fabrics exhibit excellent chemical ...resistance to organic and pH solution.
The purpose of this paper is to propose a facile, green and low-cost approach of the preparation of superhydrophobic cotton textiles, which can be fabricated with fluorinated TiO2 sols via a sol-gel method. The coating was prepared with TiO2 sols catalyzed with acetic acid, then modified by poly(Hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) (PHFBMA) which was synthesized by free radical polymerization. The wettability, surface morphology and chemical composition of pristine and modified cotton fabrics were investigated. The modified fabric presents a high contact angle reached up to 152.5°. The successful incorporation of fluorinated TiO2 nanoparticles into cotton fabric was verified by the above measurements results. Additionally, the chemical stability of the coated fabric has been tested by immersing in different pH solutions and organic solvents, demonstrating the outstanding water repellency of the fabric. Furthermore, the treated cotton fabric shows excellent self-cleaning properties, which makes it an ideal material for large-scaled industrial applications in various conditions.
Porous silica‐based materials have burgeoning applications ranging from fillers and additives, to adsorbents, catalysts, and recently therapeutic agents and vaccines in nanomedicine. The ...preponderance of these materials is made by sol–gel processing wherein soluble silica precursors are reacted to form amorphous networks composed of siloxane bonds. The facile sol–gel approach allows for an unlimited variety of binary tertiary and more complex chemical compositions including organic ligands and networks resulting in so‐called organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Here, a brief review of the recent progress in sol–gel‐derived silica materials prepared as particles, thin films, biosilica/silica bioreplicas (of molecules, cells and organisms), and their related preparation, properties, and bioapplications is provided. First, it highlights the recent achievements of mesoporous silica nanoparticles in biomedical applications, including therapeutic agent delivery, multimodal imaging and theranostics, and bone tissue engineering and repair. Second, the research in evaporation‐induced self‐assembly (EISA)‐based mesostructured silica thin films and cell‐directed EISA in bio/nano interfaces for various bioapplications, such as bioactive coatings, biosensing, and living cell immobilization, has been reviewed. Third, the pioneering work in biomimetic silicification/immobilization of biomolecules and bio‐organisms and silica bioreplication of complex bio‐organisms is summarized. Finally, it is concluded with personal perspectives on the directions of future work on this field.
The most recent progress in sol–gel‐derived silica materials prepared as particles, thin films, biosilica, and silica bioreplicas (of molecules, cells, and organisms) is reviewed. This includes their related preparation, properties, and potential biological and biomedical applications.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a rapidly developing field that has seen tremendous progress over the past 15 years. The development of GPR spans aspects of geophysical science, technology, and a ...wide range of scientific and engineering applications. The explosion of primary literature devoted to GPR technology, theory and applications has lead to a strong demand for an up-to-date synthesis and overview of this rapidly developing field. Because there are specifics in the utilization of GPR for different applications, a review of the current state of development of the applications along with the fundamental theory is required. This book will provide sufficient detail to allow both practitioners and newcomers to the area of GPR to use it as a handbook and primary research reference.
Photocatalysts have been widely applied in the degradation of organic compounds using visible and ultraviolet radiation. Different synthesis approaches have been developed and optimized to produce ...efficient, eco-friendly, and inexpensive materials to photo-treat water samples contaminated with dyes, pigments, pesticides, and other organic pollutants. Over the last two decades magnetic materials have emerged as a potential alternative to facilitate catalyst isolation in heterogeneously catalyzed liquid-phase reactions. In this review, we focus on the discussion of several studies including the main synthesis processes and new protocol modifications for the fabrication of magnetic photocatalysts, and their impact on the catalyst morphology, efficiency, and recycling. Emphasis is given on the discussion of the synthesis strategies over last decade to produce photoactive catalysts including single-phase catalysts, composites, Multifunctional metal–organic framework materials, binary and ternary core–shell materials, and yolk–shell photocatalysts.
Highlights
A review on magnetic materials for photocatalysis is given.
Emphasis is given on sol–gel preparation methods utilized for the fabrication of magnetic photocatalysts.
Discussion on different material types of magnetic photocatalysts is presented.
Magnetic separation properties and efficiency are discussed based on the material structures.
Sol–gel technology is a contemporary advancement in science that requires taking a multidisciplinary approach with regard to its various applications. This book highlights some applications of the ...sol–gel technology, including protective coatings, catalysts, piezoelectric devices, wave guides, lenses, high-strength ceramics, superconductors, synthesis of nanoparticles, and insulating materials. In particular, for biotechnological applications, biomolecules or the incorporation of bioactive substances into the sol–gel matrix has been extensively studied and has been a challenge for many researchers. Some sol–gel materials are widely applied in light-emitting diodes, solar cells, sensing, catalysis, integration in photovoltaic devices, and more recently in biosensing, bioimaging, or medical diagnosis; others can be considered excellent drug delivery systems. The goal of an ideal drug delivery system is the prompt delivery of a therapeutic amount of the drug to the proper site in the body, where the desired drug concentration can be maintained. The interactions between drugs and the sol–gel system can affect the release rate. In conclusion, the sol–gel synthesis method offers mixing at the molecular level and is able to improve the chemical homogeneity of the resulting composite. This opens new doors not only regarding compositions of previously unattainable materials, but also to unique structures with different applications.
Sol‐gel route has shown its enormous potential in tissue engineering applications as an advantageous method for the production of bioactive glasses aimed at regenerating both hard and soft tissues. ...This review discusses the chemical aspects of the method with emphasis on the morphological, chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of sol‐gel derived materials. The attention will be particularly focused on sol‐gel bioactive glasses and sol‐gel foam scaffolds for bone regeneration. The advantages deriving from the versatility of the sol‐gel method compared to the traditional melt‐quenching route will be underlined in terms of bioactivity, compositions, and processing parameters.
Sol–gel process is a very unique wet chemical method for producing advanced materials in various areas of research. An increasingly evolution trend of this process is to combine with other ...technologies, such as surface modification, hybridization, templating induction, self-assembly, and phase separation, for preparing new materials possessing controllable shape, unique microstructure, superior properties, and special application. The review aims to present the synthesis of several typical sol–gel-derived materials (monodisperse nanoparticles, hybrid coatings, hollow microspheres, aerogels, and porous monoliths) via sol–gel process combining with other technologies . Some examples of application of the sol–gel-derived materials are also included.
The chemical protonation of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) solids with strong oxidizing acids, for example HNO3, is demonstrated as an efficient pathway for the sol processing of a stable CN colloidal ...suspension, which can be translated into thin films by dip/disperse‐coating techniques. The unique features of CN colloids, such as the polymeric matrix and the reversible hydrogen bonding, result in the thin‐film electrodes derived from the sol solution exhibiting a high mechanical stability with improved conductivity for charge transport, and thus show a remarkably enhanced photo‐electrochemical performance. The polymer system can in principle be broadly tuned by hybridization with desired functionalities, thus paving the way for the application of CN for specific tasks, as exemplified here by coupling with carbon nanotubes.
Going strong: Sol engineering of graphitic carbon nitride solids with strong oxidizing acids (e.g. HNO3) generates a stable colloidal suspension, which can be translated into thin films by dip/disperse‐coating techniques. The polymeric matrix and the reversible hydrogen bonding result in the thin‐film electrodes derived from the sol solution having high mechanical stability with improved conductivity for charge transport.
This work aims to prepare a series of sols based on Titanium (IV) butoxide (TBT) and using boric acid as a functional additive. The sols were applied onto the cotton fabric by the pad-pry-cure ...process. The as-obtained cotton fabrics were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis in order to determine their chemical composition and their surface morphology, respectively. The results indicate the formation of TiO
2
–boron-based coating over the surface of coated cotton fabric. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the coating did not affect the crystallographic structure of the cellulosic fabric. The functional properties of the treated samples were measured from thermo-oxidative stability and burning behavior performance, drop absorption and water uptake measurements. The results showed that the coated cotton fabrics by the sol–gel approach through the application of TiO
2
–boron-based coating with 2.5 molar ratio of boric acid possessed high thermal stability and flame retardancy. Most importantly, a total burning time of 2 s and a residue of more than 90% were obtained after 10 s of flame application, indicating that the functionalized cotton fabric self-extinguished the fire rapidly. The water-repellent properties were also enhanced and the obtained results mentioned that the drop time and the water uptake were improved compared with untreated cotton fabric. The effect of the application of TiO
2
–boron-based coatings on the mechanical properties of cotton samples, as well as their washing fastness were studied.
Highlights
A series of sols based on Titanium (IV) butoxide and boric acid have been synthesized at a different molar ratio of boric acid from 0.1 to 2.5.
The prepared sols were applied to the surface of the cotton fabric by the pad-dry-cure process.
The production of cotton fabric with flame-retardant (FR) and hydrophobic properties through the application of TiO
2
–boron-based coating has been successfully achieved.
Good flame-retardant property and thermal stability, as well as, water repellence of modified cotton fabric, were found at 2.5 molar ratio of boric acid.
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