Growth kinetics, thermochemistry, and growth mechanism of inorganic (nano)particles in ionic liquids

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Taubert
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2009 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 128900307

Ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted tremendous attention in the last years. Recently especially the synthesis of inorganic materials in ILs has attracted attention. This is due to the fact that ILs can, for example, dissolve metal oxides and hydroxides and template well-defined inorganic structures. However, there are many open questions with respect to the exact pathways of particle formation, formation kinetics, and thermochemistry. We therefore propose to study a model reaction for particle formation in ILs. Specifically, we plan to study the formation of Au(0) and metal phosphate particles from a series of ionic liquids. We propose to determine the structure of the precursor ions in the ILs, induction times, activation energies, frequency factors, orders of reaction, heats of reaction, particle morphogenesis, and particle size and particle number evolution as a function of the IL chemistry. Experimentally, these questions will be addressed using IR, Raman, and UV spectroscopy, X-ray scattering, thermal analysis, and electron microscopy, including extensive data processing and image analysis. The results will provide a set of kinetic and thermodynamic data that will for one of the the first times enable the quantitative description of mineralization of inorganic nanoparticles from ILs.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants