Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs

Nanocomposites of silica gel (SG) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of relatively low concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 wt%) were characterized before and after annealing. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon, and based on this, the morphology of the composites was investigated by scanning...

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Autores principales:	Mohammed S. Alotaibi, Norah H. Almousa, Mohammed A. Asaker, Fahad S. Alkasmoul, Nezar H. Khdary, Maha Khayyat
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	silica gel multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) Raman spectroscopy Crystallography QD901-999
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/0e7957e45344446f8f2953b13d5e60c8
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:0e7957e45344446f8f2953b13d5e60c82021-11-25T17:17:37ZMorphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs10.3390/cryst111112802073-4352https://doaj.org/article/0e7957e45344446f8f2953b13d5e60c82021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/11/1280https://doaj.org/toc/2073-4352Nanocomposites of silica gel (SG) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of relatively low concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 wt%) were characterized before and after annealing. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon, and based on this, the morphology of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The produced images show that the MWCNTs were embedded into the silica gel base material. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmittance spectroscopy showed that MWCNTs were not functionalized within the matrix of silica gel and MWCNT composites. However, after annealing the composites at 400 °C for 4 h in air, evidence of activation was observed in the FTIR spectrum. The effects of the embedding of MWCNTs on porosity, specific surface area, and pore size distribution were studied using Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of the prepared composites were mainly dominated by characteristic sharp scattering peaks of the silica gel at 480, 780, and 990 cm<sup>−1</sup> and a broad band centered at 2100 cm<sup>−1</sup>. The scattering peaks of MWCNTs were not well pronounced, as the homogeneity of the composite is always questionable. Nanosizer analysis showed that at 0.25 wt%, the distribution of MWCNTs within the silica gel was optimal. Vickers hardness measurements showed that the hardness increased with the increasing weight percent of MWCNTs within the composite matrix, while annealing enhanced the mechanical properties of the composites. Further studies are required to investigate the pore structure of silica gel within the matrix of MWCNTs to be deployed for efficient cooling and water purification applications.Mohammed S. AlotaibiNorah H. AlmousaMohammed A. AsakerFahad S. AlkasmoulNezar H. KhdaryMaha KhayyatMDPI AGarticlesilica gelmultiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs)scanning electron microscopy (SEM)Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)Raman spectroscopyCrystallographyQD901-999ENCrystals, Vol 11, Iss 1280, p 1280 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	silica gel multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) Raman spectroscopy Crystallography QD901-999
spellingShingle	silica gel multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) Raman spectroscopy Crystallography QD901-999 Mohammed S. Alotaibi Norah H. Almousa Mohammed A. Asaker Fahad S. Alkasmoul Nezar H. Khdary Maha Khayyat Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs
description	Nanocomposites of silica gel (SG) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of relatively low concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 wt%) were characterized before and after annealing. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon, and based on this, the morphology of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The produced images show that the MWCNTs were embedded into the silica gel base material. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmittance spectroscopy showed that MWCNTs were not functionalized within the matrix of silica gel and MWCNT composites. However, after annealing the composites at 400 °C for 4 h in air, evidence of activation was observed in the FTIR spectrum. The effects of the embedding of MWCNTs on porosity, specific surface area, and pore size distribution were studied using Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of the prepared composites were mainly dominated by characteristic sharp scattering peaks of the silica gel at 480, 780, and 990 cm<sup>−1</sup> and a broad band centered at 2100 cm<sup>−1</sup>. The scattering peaks of MWCNTs were not well pronounced, as the homogeneity of the composite is always questionable. Nanosizer analysis showed that at 0.25 wt%, the distribution of MWCNTs within the silica gel was optimal. Vickers hardness measurements showed that the hardness increased with the increasing weight percent of MWCNTs within the composite matrix, while annealing enhanced the mechanical properties of the composites. Further studies are required to investigate the pore structure of silica gel within the matrix of MWCNTs to be deployed for efficient cooling and water purification applications.
format	article
author	Mohammed S. Alotaibi Norah H. Almousa Mohammed A. Asaker Fahad S. Alkasmoul Nezar H. Khdary Maha Khayyat
author_facet	Mohammed S. Alotaibi Norah H. Almousa Mohammed A. Asaker Fahad S. Alkasmoul Nezar H. Khdary Maha Khayyat
author_sort	Mohammed S. Alotaibi
title	Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs
title_short	Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs
title_full	Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs
title_fullStr	Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs
title_full_unstemmed	Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs
title_sort	morphological: optical, and mechanical characterizations of non-activated and activated nanocomposites of sg and mwcnts
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/0e7957e45344446f8f2953b13d5e60c8
work_keys_str_mv	AT mohammedsalotaibi morphologicalopticalandmechanicalcharacterizationsofnonactivatedandactivatednanocompositesofsgandmwcnts AT norahhalmousa morphologicalopticalandmechanicalcharacterizationsofnonactivatedandactivatednanocompositesofsgandmwcnts AT mohammedaasaker morphologicalopticalandmechanicalcharacterizationsofnonactivatedandactivatednanocompositesofsgandmwcnts AT fahadsalkasmoul morphologicalopticalandmechanicalcharacterizationsofnonactivatedandactivatednanocompositesofsgandmwcnts AT nezarhkhdary morphologicalopticalandmechanicalcharacterizationsofnonactivatedandactivatednanocompositesofsgandmwcnts AT mahakhayyat morphologicalopticalandmechanicalcharacterizationsofnonactivatedandactivatednanocompositesofsgandmwcnts
_version_	1718412511776079872

Morphological: Optical, and Mechanical Characterizations of Non-Activated and Activated Nanocomposites of SG and MWCNTs

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