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Three‐Dimensional Assemblies of Zirconia Nanocrystals Via Shape‐Preserving Reactive Conversion of Diatom Microshells
Author(s) -
Shian Samuel,
Cai Ye,
Weatherspoon Michael R.,
Allan Shawn M.,
Sandhage Kenneth H.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00734.x
Subject(s) - cubic zirconia , single displacement reaction , zirconium , nanocrystalline material , materials science , nanocrystal , magnesium , catalysis , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , ceramic , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
The synthesis of three‐dimensional (3‐D) assemblies of zirconia nanocrystals via the shape‐preserving reactive conversion of biologically reproducible, silica‐based microtemplates (diatom microshells) is demonstrated for the first time. Silica diatom microshells were first converted into magnesia replicas via an oxidation–reduction displacement reaction with magnesium gas. The magnesia replicas were then converted into zirconia replicas via a metathetic displacement reaction with zirconium tetrachloride gas. By utilizing both types of shape‐preserving displacement reactions, bioclastic silica microtemplates may be converted into functional nanocrystalline assemblies with a variety of complex, but well‐controlled 3‐D shapes and chemistries for catalytic/chemical, biological, electrical, thermal, mechanical, and other applications.