Chalcogel
WHAT ARE CHALCOGELS?
Chalcogels are a new type of aerogel that is chalcogen-based. Aerogels are a special type of material that presents a high surface area. Chalcogels are composed of metal-chalcogen moieties that are interconnected with a linking metal ion (Riley et al.,2012).
Figure 1
AeroGel
INTRODUCING…
TM
Physical and Chemical Properties
Chalcogels are a new family of aerogel that is not oxide-based (Katnatzidis and Bag, 2008). Zinc chalcogenide, like many other aerogels, have incredible physical properties. Chalcogels possess a very large surface area, low solid density, and a strong structure. These are highly porous semisolids made from a variety of chalcogen-based building blocks that have selective affinity for various heavy metals and gases (Bag and Kanatzidis, 2010). Zinc chalcogels are special in the way the frame is formed. Aerogel pores are filled with air instead of liquid, and this creates a highly porous solid with a massive surface area of 363520 m2/g (Oh et al.,2011). This feature makes chalcogels suitable for adsorbtion of chemicals. The zinc chalcogenide aerogels also possess high affinities toward heavy metal from the existent of sulphur and reversible absorption of strong electronaccepting molecules (Oh and Kanatzidis, 2011). These features are non-existent in other types of aerogel which do not have any chalcogens. Sulphur also brings the material semiconducting properties, and this means that it could also have application in photovoltaic solar cells and photocatalysis fields like hydrogen production (Environmental Research, 2007). Chalcogels have the ability to remove heavy metals like mercury from polluted water, separate hydrogen from other gases, and can be a very effective catalyst to remove sulphur from fossil fuel (Northwestern University, 2009).
The World’s Lightest Solid Material
Chalcogels
Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Figure 1 shows a microscopic image of zinc chalcogenide aerogel.
Chalcogels are a new type of aerogel that is chalcogen-based. Aerogels are a special type of material that presents a high surface area. Chalcogels are composed of metal-chalcogen moieties that are interconnected with a linking metal ion (Riley et al.,2012).
Figure 1
AeroGel
INTRODUCING…
TM
Physical and Chemical Properties
Chalcogels are a new family of aerogel that is not oxide-based (Katnatzidis and Bag, 2008). Zinc chalcogenide, like many other aerogels, have incredible physical properties. Chalcogels possess a very large surface area, low solid density, and a strong structure. These are highly porous semisolids made from a variety of chalcogen-based building blocks that have selective affinity for various heavy metals and gases (Bag and Kanatzidis, 2010). Zinc chalcogels are special in the way the frame is formed. Aerogel pores are filled with air instead of liquid, and this creates a highly porous solid with a massive surface area of 363520 m2/g (Oh et al.,2011). This feature makes chalcogels suitable for adsorbtion of chemicals. The zinc chalcogenide aerogels also possess high affinities toward heavy metal from the existent of sulphur and reversible absorption of strong electronaccepting molecules (Oh and Kanatzidis, 2011). These features are non-existent in other types of aerogel which do not have any chalcogens. Sulphur also brings the material semiconducting properties, and this means that it could also have application in photovoltaic solar cells and photocatalysis fields like hydrogen production (Environmental Research, 2007). Chalcogels have the ability to remove heavy metals like mercury from polluted water, separate hydrogen from other gases, and can be a very effective catalyst to remove sulphur from fossil fuel (Northwestern University, 2009).
The World’s Lightest Solid Material
Chalcogels
Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Figure 1 shows a microscopic image of zinc chalcogenide aerogel.
References: Aerogels - Light and Strong Substance. (n.d.). innovateus. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http://www.innovateus.net/invention/ aerogels American. (n.d.). Heavy Metal Filter Made Largely from Air: Scientific American.Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http:// www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=heavy-metal-filtermade-largely-from-air Kanatzidis, M. G. (n.d.). Development of Highly Porous Metal Chalcogenide Aerogels (Chalcogels) . Nanoscale Science and Engineering Research. Retrieved March 2, 2013, from http:// www.nseresearch.org/2011/highlights Mercouri_G._Kanatzidis~Development_of_Highly_Porous_Metal_Chalcogen ide_Aerogels_Chalcogels_.pdf Oh, Y., Bag, S., Malliakas, C. D., & Kanatzidis, M. G. (n.d.). Selective Surfaces: High-Surface-Area Zinc Tin Sulfide Chalcogels Chemistry of Materials (ACS Publications) . An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http:// pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cm2003462 Research. (n.d.). Chalcogels could clean up heavy metScience Daily als. Environmental Research . Retrieved March 1, 2013, from http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/news/30760 Riley, B., Lepry, W., Chun, J., & Strachan, D. (n.d.). Alternate Met- Chalcogels can also be used to separate hydrogen from other gases for hydrogen production. Hydrogen is a great fuel that will help society move into the future and leave fossil fuel behind. Car manufacturers are now introducing hydrogen fuel cell engines. This will move humanity into the clean energy era. als in Chalcogels. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/ technical_reports/PNNL-21488.pdf Riley, B., & Lepry, W. (n.d.). Chalcogels into a Viable Waste Form. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/ technical_reports/PNNL-21655.pdf University. (n.d.). ONE SPONGE-LIKE MATERIAL, THREE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS. Northwestern University. Retrieved March 1, 2013, from www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2009/05/ chalcogel.html SPONSORS Courtesy of Toyota