Publication | Open Access
Embedding hexanuclear tantalum bromide cluster {Ta6Br12} into SiO2 nanoparticles by reverse microemulsion method
12
Citations
39
References
2018
Year
Hexanuclear tantalum bromide cluster units [{Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sup>i</sup><sub>12</sub>}L<sup>a</sup><sub>6</sub>] (i = inner, a = apical, L = ligand OH or H<sub>2</sub>O) are embedded into SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles by a reverse microemulsion (RM) based method. [{Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sup>i</sup><sub>12</sub>}Br<sup>a</sup><sub>2</sub> (H<sub>2</sub>O)<sup>a</sup><sub>4</sub>]·<i>n</i>H<sub>2</sub>O (noted TBH) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) are used as the starting cluster compound and the precursor of SiO<sub>2</sub>, respectively. The RM system in this study consists of the <i>n</i>-heptane (oil phase), Brij L4 (surfactants), ethanol, TEOS, ammonia solution and TBH aqueous sol. The size and morphology of the product namely {Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sub>12</sub>}@SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles are analyzed by HAADF-STEM and EDS mappings. The presence and integrity of {Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sub>12</sub>} in the SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles are evidenced by EDS mapping, ICP-OES/IC and XPS analysis. The optical properties of {Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sub>12</sub>}@SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles are analyzed by diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, further evidencing the integrity of the embedded {Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sub>12</sub>} and revealing their oxidation state. Both {Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sub>12</sub>}<sup>2+</sup> and {Ta<sub>6</sub>Br<sub>12</sub>}<sup>3+</sup> are found in SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles, but the latter is much more stable than the former. The by-products in this RM-based synthesis, as well as their related factors, are also discussed.
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