NiO–silica based nanostructured materials obtained by microemulsion assisted sol–gel procedure

NiO–silica based materials have been synthesized by microemulsion assisted sol–gel procedure. The versatility of these soft nanotechnology techniques has been exploited in order to obtain different types of nanostructures, such as NiO nanoparticles, NiO silica coated nanoparticles and NiO embedded in silica matrix. These materials have been characterized by adequate structural and morphology techniques: DLS, HR-TEM/SAED, BET, AFM. Optical and semiconducting properties (band-gap values) of the synthesized materials have been quantified by means of VIS–NIR diffuse reflectance spectra, thus demonstrating their applicative potential in various electron transfer phenomena such as photocatalysis, electrochromic thin films, solid oxide fuel cells.

Graphical abstractTEM micrograph of NiO/SiO2 nanoparticles.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Microemulsion assisted sol–gel procedure for NiO silica nanomaterials synthesis. ► Controlling the size and shape of nanoparticles and avoiding their aggregation. ► Narrow band-gap semiconductors (energies <3 eV) absorbing VIS or near-UV light biologically and chemically inert semiconductors entrapping/coating in silica network. ► Low cost as the microemulsion is firstly used in water metallic cation extraction.