Property Tuning through Fine Size Control and Hierarchical Nanostructuring of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Supported in Porous Matrices: a Review

In the nanoscale, matter presents different properties compared to its bulk counterparts, owing to the considerable increase of the surface/bulk ratio, as well as the occurrence of quantum confinement effects. One method to fine control the growth of nanoparticles, their size and nanostructure is to use metalorganic deposition combined with a porous matrix as host, where pores act as nanoreactors for nanoparticle growth, resulting in chemically integrated systems. In this review, we look at the history and achievements of the chemical method of impregnation-decomposition cycles for the precise size control, property tuning and tailored synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles. We give an overview of the various oxide nanoparticles and nanomaterials developed over the years, and how the method of impregnation-decomposition cycles allowed the synthesis of pure, doped and core-shell oxide nanoparticles, as well as the tuning of their properties through the combined fine control of nanoparticle size, nanostructure, and composition.

Keywords:
porous materials; nanoparticles; impregnation-decomposition cycles; core-shell; integrated chemical systems

Authorship

Cristine S. de Oliveira

formal analysis

writing, reviewing and editing of the original draft

conceptualization

final revision of the manuscript

edited the final version of the manuscript

holds a bachelor’s degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry (2010), a master’s degree in Chemistry (2013) and a PhD in Sciences (2017) from University of Campinas (UNICAMP). She then continued at UNICAMP for a post-doc until 2018, when she left to Germany for a post-doc at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg until 2020, and then continued her previous research at UNICAMP from 2021 until 2022 as a collaborating researcher. She then moved to the private sector in Germany, having led a laboratory for Corona diagnostics from 2022 until 2023. She currently works in a company in the sector of battery development. Dr Cristine has experience in the design, synthesis and advanced characterization of chemically integrated materials and nanomaterials for applications in light emission, catalysis, sensing, and environmental applications.

Laboratório de Materiais Funcionais, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas-SP, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de CampinasBrazilCampinas, SP, BrazilLaboratório de Materiais Funcionais, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas-SP, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5618-0245

Fernando A. Sigoli

formal analysis

writing, reviewing and editing of the original draft

holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (1993), a master’s in Chemistry (1997) and PhD in Chemistry (2001) from the State University of São Paulo (UNESP). He has worked in the private sector in the United States from 2001 to 2005 as researcher, manager of research and development (R&D) of photonic devices. After that period, he returned to Brazil for a post-doc at the Institute of Chemistry at UNESP (2005-2006). He joined University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in 2006 as a Doctor Professor. Since 2013, he is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the UNICAMP. Prof Sigoli has experience in the field of Chemistry, with emphasis on Inorganic Chemistry in the preparation of lanthanide-doped nanomaterials and functionalized photoluminescent complexes applied to optical probes.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1285-6765

Italo O. Mazali ^** e-mail: mazali@unicamp.br

formal analysis

writing, reviewing and editing of the original draft

conceptualization

final revision of the manuscript

edited the final version of the manuscript

holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with Technological Attributions (1994) and a master’s degree in Chemistry (1997) from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and a PhD in Chemistry from University of Campinas (UNICAMP) (2001). He is currently a Full Professor at the Institute of Chemistry (UNICAMP). Prof Mazali has experience on synthesis with control of particles size and morphology of semiconductors oxides (magnetic, optical and catalytic properties) and noble metal nanoparticles (SERS applications); relationship between size, morphology and property, synergistic effect on core-shell nanoparticles; development of a methodology for the characterization of multicomponent nanostructured materials.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5698-5273

* e-mail: mazali@unicamp.br

Editor handled this article: Célia M. Ronconi (Associate)

“Our tribute to Prof. Oswaldo Luiz Alves for his contribution to science, exemplary work, profound wisdom, and unwavering determination.”

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