Effects of secondary metal carbonate addition on the porous character of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels

Stewart J. Taylor, Mark D. Haw, Jan Sefcik, Ashleigh J. Fletcher

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

A deeper understanding of the chemistry and physics of growth, aggregation and gelation processes involved in the formation of xerogels is key to providing greater control of the porous characteristics of such materials, increasing the range of applications for which they may be utilised. Time-resolved dynamic light scattering has been used to study the formation of resorcinol-formaldehyde gels in the presence of combinations of Group I (Na and Cs) and Group II (Ca and Ba) metal carbonates. It was found that the combined catalyst composition, including species and times of addition, is crucial in determining the end properties of the xerogels, via its effect on growth of clusters involved in formation of the gel network. Combination materials have textural characteristics within the full gamut offered by each catalyst alone; however, in addition, combination materials which retain the small pores associated with sodium carbonate catalysed xerogels exhibit a narrowing of the pore size distribution, providing an increased pore volume within an application-specific range of pore sizes. We also show evidence of pore size tunability while maintaining ionic strength, which significantly increases the potential of such systems for biological applications.
LanguageEnglish
Pages13571-13580
Number of pages10
JournalLangmuir
Volume31
Issue number50
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Dec 2015

Fingerprint

Xerogels
xerogels
Carbonates
formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Pore size
carbonates
Metals
porosity
Gels
metals
Catalysts
Dynamic light scattering
Gelation
Ionic strength
gels
sodium carbonates
Agglomeration
Physics
catalysts

Keywords

  • resorcinol-formaldehyde gels
  • dynamic light scattering
  • gel formation
  • gelation
  • xerogels

Cite this

Taylor, Stewart J. ; Haw, Mark D. ; Sefcik, Jan ; Fletcher, Ashleigh J./ Effects of secondary metal carbonate addition on the porous character of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels. In: Langmuir. 2015 ; Vol. 31, No. 50. pp. 13571-13580
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Taylor, SJ, Haw, MD, Sefcik, J & Fletcher, AJ 2015, 'Effects of secondary metal carbonate addition on the porous character of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels' Langmuir, vol. 31, no. 50, pp. 13571-13580. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02483

Effects of secondary metal carbonate addition on the porous character of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels. / Taylor, Stewart J.; Haw, Mark D.; Sefcik, Jan; Fletcher, Ashleigh J.

In: Langmuir, Vol. 31, No. 50, 02.12.2015, p. 13571-13580.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Taylor SJ, Haw MD, Sefcik J, Fletcher AJ. Effects of secondary metal carbonate addition on the porous character of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels. Langmuir. 2015 Dec 2;31(50):13571-13580. Available from, DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02483

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