Lessons from a “Failed” Experiment: Zinc Silicates with Complex Morphology by Reaction of Zinc Acetate, the Ionic Liquid Precursor (ILP) Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide (TBAH), and Glass

Materials

Zhonghao Li¹  Yaroslav Z. Khimyak² 

[1] Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, Building 26, D-14476 Golm, Germany;Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; E-mail:

关键词: Ionic liquids;    willemite;    hemimorphite;    catalysis;    high surface area;    inorganic sponges;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ma1010003

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

At elevated temperatures, the ionic liquid precursor (ILP) tetrabutylammonium hydroxide reacts with zinc acetate and the glass wall of the reaction vessel. While the reaction of OH^- with the glass wall is not surprising as such and could be considered a failed experiment, the resulting materials are interesting for a variety of applications. If done on purpose and under controlled conditions, the reaction with the glass wall results in uniform, well-defined hemimorphite Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂·nH₂O and willemite Zn₂SiO₄ microcrystals and films. Their morphology can be adjusted by variation of the reaction time and reaction temperature. The hemimorphite can be transformed to Zn₂SiO₄ via calcination. The process is therefore a viable approach for the fabrication of porous films on glass surfaces with potential applications as catalyst support, among others.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2008 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.