In recent years, many efforts have been made on the synthesis of new self-assembled materials, and on scientific understanding of the formation mechanism from building molecules. With the aim to develop new functional materials, layered inorganic compounds recently attracted considerable interests for the preparation of nanoscale organic/inorganic hybrids. A large class of minerals presents inherently nanostructured morphologies. Within this group, we cite, to name a few, chrysotile, crocidolite, and montmorillonite, being examples of crystalline aggregates of nanotubes, nanorods, and nanosheets, respectively. On this basis, synthetic “geo-inspired” materials are being developed, with the aim to enhance their possibility to be employed as nanomaterials in technological applications. On the other hand, the surface of such minerals is rich of chemical groups which can bind covalently or electrostatically organic compounds capable to confer technological functionalities to the ultimate hybrid system. In order for a transition from bare mineral to functional material to be achieved, the development of processes for the deposition of highly-oriented thin film phases of such mineral nanoparticles are mandatory. Indeed, their marked anisotropic morphology influences also their physical properties, which may vary to a great extent depending on the probed direction. Here, we show the results of a scanning probe and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and IR optical analysis of nanostructured thin films of natural and synthetic minerals obtained by liquid phase deposition of colloidal solutions. By assisting the deposition process with a static magnetic field, we demonstrate the possibility to induce a preferential orientation of the deposited nanoparticles, thanks to the anisotropy of their diamagnetic or paramagnetic susceptibilities. This effect is also studied in minerals deliberately doped with paramagnetic species such as Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions. Hybrid inorganic-organic colloids are synthesized by reacting chrysotile nanotubes with ionic derivatives of metal-phthalocyanines, organic molecules which display semiconducting character in the solid state. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the magnetically driven ordered deposits of hybrid nanoparticles are analyzed and compared with those of the bare minerals. Some conclusive remarks for their technological application and perspectives are drawn.

Campione, M., Capitani, G., Sassella, A., Malaspina, N., Gentile, P., Canevali, C., et al. (2011). Towards highly-oriented nanostructured thin films of natural and synthetic minerals: new chances for nanotechnology. In Epitome 2011 - Geoitalia 2011.

Towards highly-oriented nanostructured thin films of natural and synthetic minerals: new chances for nanotechnology

CAMPIONE, MARCELLO;CAPITANI, GIANCARLO;SASSELLA, ADELE;MALASPINA, NADIA;GENTILE, PAOLO;CANEVALI, CARMEN;
2011

Abstract

In recent years, many efforts have been made on the synthesis of new self-assembled materials, and on scientific understanding of the formation mechanism from building molecules. With the aim to develop new functional materials, layered inorganic compounds recently attracted considerable interests for the preparation of nanoscale organic/inorganic hybrids. A large class of minerals presents inherently nanostructured morphologies. Within this group, we cite, to name a few, chrysotile, crocidolite, and montmorillonite, being examples of crystalline aggregates of nanotubes, nanorods, and nanosheets, respectively. On this basis, synthetic “geo-inspired” materials are being developed, with the aim to enhance their possibility to be employed as nanomaterials in technological applications. On the other hand, the surface of such minerals is rich of chemical groups which can bind covalently or electrostatically organic compounds capable to confer technological functionalities to the ultimate hybrid system. In order for a transition from bare mineral to functional material to be achieved, the development of processes for the deposition of highly-oriented thin film phases of such mineral nanoparticles are mandatory. Indeed, their marked anisotropic morphology influences also their physical properties, which may vary to a great extent depending on the probed direction. Here, we show the results of a scanning probe and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and IR optical analysis of nanostructured thin films of natural and synthetic minerals obtained by liquid phase deposition of colloidal solutions. By assisting the deposition process with a static magnetic field, we demonstrate the possibility to induce a preferential orientation of the deposited nanoparticles, thanks to the anisotropy of their diamagnetic or paramagnetic susceptibilities. This effect is also studied in minerals deliberately doped with paramagnetic species such as Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions. Hybrid inorganic-organic colloids are synthesized by reacting chrysotile nanotubes with ionic derivatives of metal-phthalocyanines, organic molecules which display semiconducting character in the solid state. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the magnetically driven ordered deposits of hybrid nanoparticles are analyzed and compared with those of the bare minerals. Some conclusive remarks for their technological application and perspectives are drawn.
abstract + poster
phyllosilicate, inosilicate, magnetic anisotropy, nanostructures, liquid phase deposition
English
VIII Forum della Federazione Italiana di Scienze della Terra, Geoitalia Onlus
2011
Epitome 2011 - Geoitalia 2011
22-set-2011
4
none
Campione, M., Capitani, G., Sassella, A., Malaspina, N., Gentile, P., Canevali, C., et al. (2011). Towards highly-oriented nanostructured thin films of natural and synthetic minerals: new chances for nanotechnology. In Epitome 2011 - Geoitalia 2011.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/25077
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