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Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications
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Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 9890

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Stoyan Gutzov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: aerogels; optical materials; sol-gel; luminescence; solid state
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sol–gel technology is a powerful physicochemical method for the preparation of functional materials with tunable optical, electrical and thermal properties. Using this approach, a wide range of useful ceramic oxides, organic gels and aerogels with various chemical compositions can be prepared. The present Special Issue, entitled “Functional Sol–Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications,” welcomes original papers on the preparation and structure–property relationships of organic, inorganic or hybrid sol–gel and aerogel composites, with a focus on their specific applications and functionalities. However, please note that investigations of thin sol-gel films or biomedical materials are well established.

Prof. Dr. Stoyan Gutzov
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • sol-gel composites
  • aerogels
  • functional materials
  • optical properties
  • electrical properties
  • thermal insulation

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 156 KiB  
Editorial
Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications
by Stoyan Gutzov
Molecules 2024, 29(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010033 - 20 Dec 2023
Viewed by 884
Abstract
Introduction [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)

Research

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12 pages, 10703 KiB  
Article
Cobalt Ferrite Synthesized Using a Biogenic Sol–Gel Method for Biomedical Applications
by Patrícia Gomes, Bárbara Costa, João P. F. Carvalho, Paula I. P. Soares, Tânia Vieira, Célia Henriques, Manuel Almeida Valente and Sílvia Soreto Teixeira
Molecules 2023, 28(23), 7737; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28237737 - 23 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have limitations and severe side effects. Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) is an alternative method that can be used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiotherapy [...] Read more.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have limitations and severe side effects. Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) is an alternative method that can be used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat cancer. Cobalt ferrite particles were synthesized using an innovative biogenic sol–gel method with powder of coconut water (PCW). The obtained powders were subjected to heat treatments between 500 °C and 1100 °C. Subsequently, they were characterized by thermal, structural, magnetic, and cytotoxic analyses to assess their suitability for MH applications. Through X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, it was possible to confirm the presence of the pure phase of CoFe2O4 in the sample treated at 1100 °C, exhibiting a saturation magnetization of 84 emu/g at 300 K and an average grain size of 542 nm. Furthermore, the sample treated at 1100 °C showed a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 3.91 W/g, and at concentrations equal to or below 5 mg/mL, is non-cytotoxic, being the most suitable for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)
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13 pages, 1488 KiB  
Article
Electroassisted Incorporation of Ferrocene within Sol–Gel Silica Films to Enhance Electron Transfer
by Rayane-Ichrak Loughlani, Alonso Gamero-Quijano and Francisco Montilla
Molecules 2023, 28(19), 6845; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196845 - 28 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1117
Abstract
The sol–gel method is a straightforward technique that allows electrode modification with silica thin films. Furthermore, the silica pores could be functionalized to enhance the electrical conductivity and reactivity of the silica films. In this context, silica thin films were functionalized with ferrocene [...] Read more.
The sol–gel method is a straightforward technique that allows electrode modification with silica thin films. Furthermore, the silica pores could be functionalized to enhance the electrical conductivity and reactivity of the silica films. In this context, silica thin films were functionalized with ferrocene species. This functionalization was performed by electroassisted accumulation, generating a micro-structured composite electrode (Fc@SiO2 electrode). These modified electrodes were characterized by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods, pointing out that ferrocene species were confined with high stability within the microporous silica thin film, demonstrating the good adsorption capacity of the silica. While the spectroelectrochemical characterization indicates that only a fraction of the confined species within the silica films were electroactive, the electrochemical results demonstrate that the Fc@SiO2 film enhances the electrochemical response of cytochrome c in a solution, which gives rise to further applications of these films for redox-controlled release and electrochemical detection of other redox-active proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)
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19 pages, 4905 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Degradation Studies of Organic Dyes over Novel Cu/Ni Loaded Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrid Nanocomposite: Adsorption, Kinetics and Thermodynamic Studies
by Amina Kanwal, Tayyaba Shahzadi, Tauheeda Riaz, Maria Zaib, Safia Khan, Mohamed A. Habila and Mika Sillanpaa
Molecules 2023, 28(18), 6474; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186474 - 6 Sep 2023
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 1531
Abstract
Nowadays, for environmental remediation, photocatalytic process involving graphene-based semiconductors is considered a very promising oxidation process for water treatment. In the present study, nanocomposite (Cu/Ni/rGO) has been synthesized by Dypsis lutescens leaf extract. Characterization of the sample was carried out by UV-visible spectroscopy, [...] Read more.
Nowadays, for environmental remediation, photocatalytic process involving graphene-based semiconductors is considered a very promising oxidation process for water treatment. In the present study, nanocomposite (Cu/Ni/rGO) has been synthesized by Dypsis lutescens leaf extract. Characterization of the sample was carried out by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Different parameters like contact time, nanocatalyst amount, dye concentration, effect of temperature. and pH factor were optimized to examine the maximum removal efficiency for dyes rhodamine B and alizarine R with and without visible light source. In both cases, i.e., with or without light, maximum removal was observed at 20 mg of nanocatalyst for 5 ppm concentration of both dyes at 45 °C temperature and pH 10 for rhodamine B and pH 4 for alizarine R, respectively with a 20 min contact time. Maximum removal of dyes 93% rhodamine B and 91% alizarine R were observed under a tungsten lamp as compared to without a tungsten lamp, i.e., 78% of RhB and 75% of AR from mixture solution of these dyes. To assess the rate of reaction, spontaneity, and nature of reaction thermodynamics, kinetics and adsorption isotherms were studied. Thermodynamic values indicated that both dyes depicted endothermic and spontaneous degradation processes. Isotherm data fitted best to a Freundlich isotherm, while results of kinetic studies of both dyes followed the pseudo 2nd order kinetic equation. In the end, scavenging radical studies concluded that hydroxyl radicals were the main active specie involved in the photocatalytic degradation process, and regeneration experiments resulted that Cu/Ni/rGO nanocomposites were re-utilized for about four times. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)
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18 pages, 8201 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nonmagnetic Zn2+ Ion and RE Ion Substitution on the Magnetic Properties of Functional Nanomaterials Co1−yZnyRExFe2−xO4 (RE = La, Sm, Gd) by Sol–Gel
by Jinpei Lin, Xingxing Yang, Kaimin Su, Fang Yang, Yun He and Qing Lin
Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6280; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176280 - 28 Aug 2023
Viewed by 986
Abstract
Magnetic Functional Nanomaterials Co1−yZnyRExFe2−xO4 (RE (rare-earth) = La,Sm,Gd) were prepared using the sol–gel combustion method. XRD characterization confirms that the ferrite samples we synthesized are single-phase cubic structures. The variation in the average crystalline [...] Read more.
Magnetic Functional Nanomaterials Co1−yZnyRExFe2−xO4 (RE (rare-earth) = La,Sm,Gd) were prepared using the sol–gel combustion method. XRD characterization confirms that the ferrite samples we synthesized are single-phase cubic structures. The variation in the average crystalline size and lattice parameter is related to RE ion doping. The Mössbauer spectra of CoRExFe2−xO4 are two sets of magnetic six-wire peaks that indicate the ferrimagnetic behavior of the sample. The calcination temperature greatly influences the absorption area of Mössbauer for CoFe2O4, indicating that the calcination temperature affects the iron ion content at the octahedral B and tetrahedral A sites. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy measurements of the substituted specimens reveal that the ferrite powders are nanoparticles. With an increase in RE ions, the coercivity increases, and the saturation magnetization changes obviously. The XRD characterization of Co0.7Zn0.3LaxFe2−xO4 shows that the main crystalline phase of the sample is the cubic spinel structure phase, and there are fewer secondary crystalline phases. The lattice parameter tends to decrease with the substitution of La3+ ions. The average grain size decreased significantly with the increase in La content. From ferrimagnetic state transition to relaxation behavior, the hyperfine magnetic field decreases in La concentration by room temperature Mössbauer spectra. With the substitution of La3+ ions, both the saturation magnetization and coercivity of the samples were reduced, and the coercivity of all samples was lower. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)
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17 pages, 11973 KiB  
Article
Structural and Magnetic Properties of Perovskite Functional Nanomaterials La1−xRxFeO3 (R = Co, Al, Nd, Sm) Obtained Using Sol-Gel
by Fang Yang, Xingxing Yang, Kaimin Su, Jinpei Lin, Yun He and Qing Lin
Molecules 2023, 28(15), 5745; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155745 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1406
Abstract
Perovskite is the largest mineral on earth and has a variety of excellent physical and chemical properties. La1−xRxFeO3 (R = Co, Al, Nd, Sm) were synthesized using the sol-gel method and analyzed by XRD, TG-DTA, and VSM. [...] Read more.
Perovskite is the largest mineral on earth and has a variety of excellent physical and chemical properties. La1−xRxFeO3 (R = Co, Al, Nd, Sm) were synthesized using the sol-gel method and analyzed by XRD, TG-DTA, and VSM. With the increase in the Co2+ doping content, the diffraction peak drifted in the direction of a larger angle. The grain size of La1−xRxFeO3(R = Co) is mainly concentrated between 50.7 and 133.5 nm. As the concentration of Co2+ increased, the magnetic loop area and magnetization increased. La1−xRxFeO3(R = Al) is an orthorhombic perovskite structure, the grain size decreased with the increase in Al3+ doping concentration, and the minimum crystallite is 17.9 nm. The magnetic loop area and magnetization increased with the increase in Al3+ ion concentration. The enclosed area of the M-H curve of the sample decreased, and the ferromagnetic order gradually weakened and tended to be antiferromagnetic, which may be due to the increase in sintering temperature, decrease in the iron oxide composition, and changes in the magnetic properties. Proper doping can improve the magnetization of La1−xRxFeO3(R = Nd), refine the particles, and obtain better magnetic performance. As the Nd3+ ion concentration increased, the magnetic properties of the samples increased. Ms of La0.85Co0.15FeO3 prepared by different calcination time increases with the increase in calcination time. As the Sm3+ ion concentration increased, the magnetic properties of the samples increased. Proper doping can improve the magnetization of La1−xRxFeO3(R = Sm), refine the particles, and generate better magnetic performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)
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Review

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38 pages, 26271 KiB  
Review
Advanced Nanostructured Coatings Based on Doped TiO2 for Various Applications
by Mariuca Gartner, Anna Szekeres, Hermine Stroescu, Daiana Mitrea and Maria Covei
Molecules 2023, 28(23), 7828; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28237828 - 28 Nov 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1989
Abstract
For many years, TiO2-based materials and improving their properties in order to expand their application areas have been the focus of numerous research groups. Various innovative approaches have been proposed to improve the photocatalytic and gas-sensing properties of TiO2 nanostructures. [...] Read more.
For many years, TiO2-based materials and improving their properties in order to expand their application areas have been the focus of numerous research groups. Various innovative approaches have been proposed to improve the photocatalytic and gas-sensing properties of TiO2 nanostructures. In this review, we aim to synthesize the available information in the literature, paying special attention to the sol–gel technology, which is one of the most frequently used methods for TiO2 synthesis. The influence of dopants on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of TiO2 and the way to modify them in a controlled manner are briefly discussed. The role of shallow and/or deep energy levels within the TiO2 bandgap in the electron transport behavior of doped TiO2 is emphasized. Selected research on photocatalytic applications in water disinfection, wastewater treatment, and self-sterilizing coatings that contribute to improving the quality of human life and environmental preservation is highlighted. A survey of biosensors that are closely related to medical applications such as cancer detection, implantology, and osteogenesis is also provided. Finally, the pressing problems that need to be solved in view of the future development of TiO2-based nanostructures are listed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Sol-Gel Composites: Preparation and Applications)
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