Open Access
Determination of hazardous vapors from the thermal decomposition of organochlorinated silica xerogels with adsorptive properties
(Elsevier, 2024) Rosales Reina, María Beatriz; Cruz Quesada, Guillermo; Pujol, Pablo; Reinoso, Santiago; Elosúa Aguado, César; Arzamendi Manterola, Gurutze; López Ramón, María Victoria; Garrido Segovia, Julián José; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
The incorporation of organic groups into sol-gel silica materials is known to have a noticeable impact on the properties and structure of the resulting xerogels due to the combination of the properties inherent to the organic fragments (functionality and flexibility) with the mechanical and structural stability of the inorganic matrix. However, the reduction of the inorganic content in the materials could be detrimental to their thermal stability properties, limiting the range of their potential applications. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the thermal stability of hybrid inorganic-organic silica xerogels prepared from mixtures of tetraethoxysilane and organochlorinated triethoxysilane precursors. To this end, a series of four materials with a molar percentage of organochlorinated precursor fixed at 10%, but differing in the type of organic group (chloroalkyls varying in the alkyl-chain length and chlorophenyl), has been selected as model case study. The gases and vapors released during the thermal decomposition of the samples under N2 atmosphere have been analyzed and their components determined and quantified using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled to a Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer and to a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry unit. These analyses have allowed to identify up to three different thermal events for the pyrolysis of the organochlorinated xerogel materials and to elucidate the reaction pathways associated with such processes. These mechanisms have been found to be strongly dependent on the specific nature of the organic group.
Open Access
Polioxometalatoak ingurune urtsuan: egitura esanguratsuenak
(Universidad de País Vasco, 2021) Ruiz-Bilbao, E.; Fernández Navarro, Leticia; Artetxe, Beñat; San-Felices, L.; Reinoso, Santiago; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
Polioxometalatoen (POMen) konposizio eta egitura aniztasun ikaragarria, ur disoluzioan aurkezten dituzten oreka kimiko dinamikoen emaitza dira. Izan ere, beraien eraketa prozesuak ingurune azidotan gertatzen diren oxoanioien kondentsazio konplexuetan oinarrituta daude eta ondorioz, pH baldintza jakinetan zenbait metal-oxigeno kluster ezberdin daude orekan. Hortaz, POMei dagozkien topologia garrantzitsuenen ikuspegi orokorra aurkezten da lan honetan, pHaren arabera ur disoluzioan agertzen diren espezie nagusiei erreparatuz. Lehenik, ohiko iso- eta hetero-polioxobanadato, -polioxomolibdato eta ¿polioxowolframatoak aztertu dira eta bukatzeko hain konbentzionalak ez diren POM familietan jarri da arreta; hala nola, molibdato erraldoiak, uranio peroxo-klusterrak eta metal noblez osatutako egiturak..
Open Access
Crystal-to-crystal polymerisation of monosubstituted [PW11O39Cu(H2O)]5- Keggin-type anions
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024) Ruiz Bilbao, Estíbaliz; Pache, Aroa; Barrenechea, Unai; Reinoso, Santiago; San Felices, Leire; Vivanco, Maria dM.; Lezama, Luis; Artetxe, Beñat; Gutiérrez Zorrilla, Juan M.; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
The reaction between neutral bis(picolinate)copper(ii) complexes and copper(ii)-monosubstituted Keggin-type phosphotungstate anions formed in situ leads to the formation of the hybrid [C(NH2)3]10[{PW11O39Cu(H2O)}2{Cu(pic)2}]·10H2O compound (1, pic = picolinate) in the presence of structure-directing guanidinium cations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that 1 contains dimeric {PW11O39Cu(H2O)}2{Cu(pic)2} molecular species constituted by two Keggin-type anions linked by one {Cu(pic)2} octahedral complex through axial coordination to their terminal oxygen atoms. The extensive hydrogen-bonding network established by guanidium cations and Keggin clusters plays a key role in retaining the crystallinity of the system throughout dehydration to allow a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation into the anhydrous [C(NH2)3]10[{PW11O39Cu}2{Cu(pic)2}] (2a) at 170 °C. Structural modifications involve the re-orientation, shifting in ca. 1.5 Å and condensation of all the {PW11O39Cu} units to result in {PW11O39Cu}n chains in an unprecedented solid-state polymerisation. This phase transition also implies the cleavage of Cu-O bonds induced by the rotation and translation of Keggin-type anions, in such a way that hybrid dimeric units in 1 are dismantled and {Cu(pic)2} complexes become square planar. The irreversibility of the phase transition has been confirmed by combined thermal and diffractometric analyses, which evidence that the anhydrous phase adsorbs only one water molecule per cluster to become the [C(NH2)3]10[{PW11O39Cu}2{Cu(pic)2}]·2H2O (2h) hydrated derivative without any significant alteration in its cell parameters, nor in its crystalline structure. Phase transformations have been monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Open Access
Tuning the sensitivity of photonic sensors toward alkanes through the textural properties of hybrid xerogel coatings
(Wiley, 2025-01-15) Rosales Reina, María Beatriz; López Torres, Diego; Cruz Quesada, Guillermo; Espinal Viguri, Maialen; Elosúa Aguado, César; Reinoso, Santiago; Garrido Segovia, Julián José; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This work exemplifies how incorporating organosilane modifiers into silica matrices allows for tuning the optical response of reflection photonic sensors through customizing the textural properties of hybrid xerogel sensing films. Xerogels with propyl molar percentages 0, 5, and 10% are used to construct photonic probes (OFS0pTEOS, OFS5pTEOS and OFS10pTEOS, respectively) by dip-coating upon optimizing film deposition parameters. The time response of these probes toward a battery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprising species with different functionality, size-shape, and polarity is systematically analyzed through ON/OFF experiments, revealing that a low propyl content makes the poor-responding OFS0pTEOS film highly sensitive toward non-aromatic, large molecules with low-polar or non-polar character in OFS5pTEOS. This sensor is particularly sensitive toward alkanes, with globular cyclohexane (cyHex) outperforming elongated n-hexane. Variable-temperature calibration curves obtained from step-by-step experiments and adsorption-desorption cycles corroborate these observations and allow hysteresis to be quantified. The response to cyHex closely follows VOC concentration changes with the most stable signal among analytes, leading to well-defined curves with low-to-negligible hysteresis. The isosteric enthalpies of cyHex adsorption are obtained for both the bulk material and the sensor, demonstrating labile adsorbate-adsorbent interactions ruling the sensor response and becoming more exothermic for larger VOC concentrations.
Open Access
Consecutive single-crystal-to-single-crystal isomerization of novel octamolybdate anions within a microporous hybrid framework with robust water sorption properties
(Wiley, 2023) Ruiz Bilbao, Estíbaliz; Iturrospe, Amaia; Reinoso, Santiago; Artetxe, Beñat; Beobide, Garikoitz; San Felices, Leire; Lezama, Luis; Gutiérrez Zorrilla, Juan M.; Darwish, Shaza; Sensharma, Debobroto; Zaworotko, Michael J.; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
The 3D hybrid framework [{Cu(cyclam)}3(kMo8O27)]· 14H2O (1) (cyclam=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) undergoes sequential single-crystal-to-singlecrystal transformations upon heating to afford two different anhydrous phases (2 a and 3a). These transitions modify the framework dimensionality and enable the isomerization of k-octamolybdate (k-Mo8) anions into λ (2 a) and μ (3 a) forms through metal migration. Hydration of 3 a involves condensation of one water molecule to the cluster to afford the γ-Mo8 isomer in 4, which dehydrates back into 3a through the 6a intermediate. In contrast, 2a reversibly hydrates to form 5, exhibiting the same Mo8 cluster as that of 1. It is remarkable that three of the Mo8 clusters (k, λ and μ) are new and that up to three different microporous phases can be isolated from 1 (2 a, 3a, and 6a). Water vapor sorption analyses show high recyclability and the highest uptake values for POM-based systems. The isotherms display an abrupt step at low humidity level desirable for humidity control devices or water harvesting in drylands.
Open Access
Electrical conduction mechanism in carbon-ceramic composites
(Elsevier, 2023) Alcañiz Monge, Juan; Gil-Muñoz, Gema; Trautwein, Guido; Reinoso, Santiago; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
Carbon-ceramic composites (C/Cer) have been prepared by chemical vapor deposition of coal tar pitch onto clay substrates and characterized by thermogravimetric analyses, powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM). The study of the dc electrical conductivity, together with the determination of the Hall voltage sign, proves that such C/Cer composites are n-type semiconductors. Our results demonstrate that: 1) the mechanism of electrical conduction of C/Cer semiconductors proceeds through the pathways expected for amorphous solids (ie. variable-range hopping and heat-activated pathways at low and high temperatures, respectively); and 2) their transport properties are strongly dependent on the clay components, as evidenced by microscopy experiments.
Open Access
Thermally induced structural transitions between single-crystalline states in the first hybrid compound combining Keggin-type clusters with metal-cyclam complexes: from two-dimensional covalent assemblies to discrete molecular species
(American Chemical Society, 2020) Fernández Navarro, Leticia; Iturrospe, Amaia; Reinoso, Santiago; Artetxe, Beñat; Ruiz Bilbao, Estíbaliz; San Felices, Leire; Gutiérrez Zorrilla, Juan M.; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias
A hydrothermal reaction between the monolacunary polyoxometalate [SiW11O39]8-, a copper(II) salt, and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) affords the first example of a hybrid compound combining metal complexes of such an N4-tetradentate macrocyclic ligand and Keggin-type clusters, namely, [Cu(cyclam)(H2O)][{Cu(cyclam)}2SiW11O39Cu(H2O)]·5H2O (1). This compound has been characterized by infrared spectroscopy and thermal and elemental analyses. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (scXRD) reveals a layered crystal packing made of corrugated two-dimensional covalent grids in which four octahedral {Cu(cyclam)}2+ bridging moieties connect copper(II)-monosubstituted {SiW11O39Cu(H2O)}6- polyanions to four adjacent clusters, and additional [Cu(cyclam)(H2O)]2+ square-pyramidal counterions are embedded into square-like grid voids. Thermostructural analyses confirm the presence in the 130-250 °C temperature range of a stable and crystalline anhydrous phase, which displays a diffraction pattern different from that of 1. This thermally triggered phase transition proceeds through a single-crystal to single-crystal transformation pathway, which according to scXRD, involves not only the release of water molecules, but also the cleavage and formation of Cu-O bonds induced by the rotation of Keggin-type anions. These modifications fully dismantle the parent two-dimensional covalent assembly to result in the neutral, discrete [{Cu(cyclam)}3SiW11O39Cu] hybrid species (2), in which the cluster exhibits three square-pyramidal {Cu(cyclam)}2+ decorating moieties grafted at its surface. This species must display a five-coordinated copper(II) center in the Keggin skeleton, and therefore, it constitutes one of the scarce examples of such type of coordinatively unsaturated substituted cluster observed in the solid state. The irreversibility of the phase transition has been confirmed by combined thermal and diffractometric analyses, which evidenced also the great flexibility of the supramolecular framework of 2, as this anhydrous phase is able to adsorb up to six water molecules per cluster to lead to the hydrated derivative [{Cu(cyclam)}3SiW11O39Cu(H2O)]·5H2O (2h) without any significant alteration in its cell parameters, nor in its crystalline structure.
Open Access
In situ synthesis of SERS-active Au@POM nanostructures in a microfluidic device for real-time detection of water pollutants
(American Chemical Society, 2020) Lafuente Adiego, Marta; Pellejero, Ismael; Clemente, Alberto; Urbiztondo, Miguel A.; Mallada, Reyes; Reinoso, Santiago; Pina, María del Pilar; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We present a simple, versatile and low-cost approach for the preparation of SERS-active regions within a microfluidic channel 50 cm in length. The approach involves the UV-light-driven formation of polyoxometalate-decorated gold nanostructures, Au@POM (POM: H3PW12O40 (PW) and H3PMo12O40 (PMo)), that self-assemble in situ on the surface of the PDMS microchannels without any extra functionalization procedure. The fabricated LoCs were characterized by SEM, UV-Vis, Raman, XRD and XPS techniques. The SERS activity of the resulting Au@POM–coated lab-on-a-chip (LoC) devices was evaluated in both static and flow conditions using Rhodamine R6G. The SERS response of Au@PW–based LoCs was found superior to Au@PMo counterparts and outstanding when compared to reported data on metal@POM nanocomposites. We demonstrate the potentialities of both Au@POM–coated LoCs as analytical platforms for real time detection of the organophosphorous pesticide Paraoxon-methyl at 10-6 M concentration level.
Open Access
From fundamental materials chemistry to sensing applications: unravelling the water adsorption mechanism of a luminescent optical fibre sensor membrane
(Elsevier, 2024) Cruz Quesada, Guillermo; Rosales Reina, María Beatriz; López Torres, Diego; Reinoso, Santiago; López Ramón, María Victoria; Arzamendi Manterola, Gurutze; Elosúa Aguado, César; Espinal Viguri, Maialen; Garrido Segovia, Julián José; Ciencias; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Zientziak; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This work provides insight into the correlation between the luminescent response of a water-vapour optical fibre sensor and the textural properties of its lanthanide-doped silica coating. To this end, a library of 16 silica xerogels derived from combinations between 2 lanthanide dopants (EuIII, TbIII) and 8 antenna ligands was synthesised and characterised by photoluminescence spectroscopy and N2 and CO2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, among others. Based on the best luminescent response and most-suited porous texture, the material doped with TbIII and 2,2′-(4-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(4,5-dihydrooxazole) was selected to construct the probe. A film of this material was affixed to a commercial silica fibre by dip-coating and the resulting sensor was tested in a climatic chamber with relative humidity ranging from 20 to 90% to obtain normalised time-response and calibration curves at three temperatures. The response was linear up to certain water-vapour concentrations, beyond which abruptly changed to polynomial, acting against the sensor resolution. The adsorption mechanism was elucidated by comparing the isosteric enthalpies of adsorption calculated from the sensor calibration curves to those determined from the monolith water-vapour isotherms, revealing that capillary condensation in the membrane mesopores was the key phenomenon leading to the response deviating from linearity.
Open Access
Polyoxometalates in catalysis
(Jenny Stanford Publishing, 2022) Alcañiz Monge, Juan; Reinoso, Santiago; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
This chapter will focus on providing a basis for understanding the mechanisms involved in the catalysis carried out by selected polyoxometalate (POM)-based compounds. The catalysts discussed herein will be either insoluble POM salts or POM clusters heterogenized on porous solid supports, including activated carbon materials and metallic oxides such as zirconia. The influence on the catalytic activity of both the POM catalytic species and the active porous support will be the main aspects to be commented and analyzed in detail within the chapter.