A hybrid material to spot organic contaminants in the atmosphere
Paula Moriones resorted to a process (known as sol-gel) that allows hybrid materials to be synthesised; this results in porous materials with properties controlled at ambient temperature, and leads to savings with respect to other processes. The synthesis of these hybrid materials has resulted in a xerogel, a gel in a dehydrated state without any liquid inside it.
Nanometric-sized pores
As the researcher confirmed, gel formation time and the properties of the materials obtained are influenced by the conditions for synthesising these materials and the proportion of the ones that are organic. So, for example, the materials can have smaller or not so small pores, although always in nanometric sizes. "Pore size is crucial in the applications of these materials, because they can, for example, be used for the controlled release of drugs," she pointed out.
The research by Paula Moriones, which included a stay at the University of Lisbon (Portugal), also yielded other results. "Some of the synthesised materials are highly hydrophobic and repel water. This property enables them to be used in the pharmaceutical industry as elements for selectively trapping other materials on their surfaces or retaining them, and in the glass industry as protective coatings," concluded the researcher.
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