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R.G. Deshmukh, U. Schubert:
"SYNTHESIS OF METAL NITRIDE AND SULPHIDE NANOPARTICLES IN SILICA (MN/MS@SiO2 NANOCOMPOSITE) FROM ORGANICALLY MODIFIED SOL-GEL PRECURSORS";
Poster: 14. Österreichische Chemietage, Johannes Kepler Universität, Linz; 2011-09-26 - 2011-09-29; in: "14. Österreichische Chemietage - Program", (2011), Paper ID PO-74, 1 pages.

In addition to transition metal oxide and metal nanoparticles (NPs) in a silica host matrix, metal nitride and metal sulphide NPs in silica represent an important class of inorganic functional hybrid materials. Semiconductor transition-metal nitride and chalcogenide nanocrystals have been extensively investigated for potential applications to various fields including electronics and optics.
However, size-controlled synthesis and homogeneous distribution of metal nitride and metal sulphide nanoparticles in a host matrix and investigation of their physical and chemical properties for various applications is an interesting new area for research.
MN/MS@SiO₂ nanocomposites are prepared using organically modified sol-gel precursors by selectively anchoring the metal precursor on the reactive organic groups in the silica matrix. Thus an in situ homogeneous dispersion of the metal ions throughout the host structure is obtained and aggregation of the metal ions is prevented. A subsequent thermal treatment of the obtained gels under air allowed the formation of metal oxide nanoparticles within the silica host by degradation of the organic groups. Further reaction of metal oxide nanoparticles with nitrogen and sulphur sources gives MN/MS@SiO₂ nanocomposites.
The MN/MS@SiO₂ nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The use of functionalized silica precursors appears to be a favorable and simple way to achieve well-controlled and well-dispersed metal nitride and metal sulphide nanoparticles exclusively within the silica host matrix.

Project Head Ulrich Schubert:
Organisch modifizierte Metall-Alkoxide