Hydrophobic GeO₂ Aerogels by an Epoxide-Induced Process

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

• Hydrophobic aerogels are advanced porous materials with diverse applications.
• Existing methods for producing germanium dioxide (GeO2) aerogels often lack control over surface properties and hydrophobicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a straightforward, one-pot synthesis method for producing hydrophobic GeO2 aerogels.
• To investigate the influence of precursor ratios on aerogel morphology, porous structure, and surface properties.
• To explore the luminescent properties of the synthesized hydrophobic GeO2 aerogels.

Main Methods:

• One-pot synthesis combining epoxide-induced sol-gel process with a co-precursor method.
• Utilized varying ratios of GeCl4:(C2H5)2GeCl2 as precursors.
• Characterization using SEM, TEM, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption, SAXS, and contact angle measurements.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced hydrophobic GeO2 aerogels with tunable surface properties.
• Increased (C2H5)2GeCl2 proportion led to higher surface area (45 to 123 m²·g⁻¹) and increased contact angle (22.1° to 140.1°).
• Reported novel luminescent properties of hydrophobic GeO2 aerogels, with spectral ratios varying based on precursor composition.

Conclusions:

• The developed one-pot method offers a facile route to hydrophobic GeO2 aerogels with controlled characteristics.
• Precursor ratio is a key factor in tailoring aerogel morphology, porosity, surface wettability, and luminescence.
• These findings open avenues for using tailored hydrophobic GeO2 aerogels in applications requiring specific surface and optical properties.