Loading insoluble sulfides in mesoporous oxide films from precursors in solution

M. C. MARCHI; M. L. MARTÍNEZ RICCI; D. A. ONNA; S. A. BILMES

JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2022

0928-0707

Electronic industry waste (e-waste) is an emerging threat for its contamination degree and toxicity, such as Cd, Zn or Cu. The possibility to immobilize and confine these cations as nanoparticles (NPs) in inorganic structures is an interesting strategy for the recovery of hazardous cations. Motivated by this aim, in this work we present a detailed study of the formation of metal sulfides MS in the pores of a mesoporous thin film (MPO) by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process of infiltration. Varying diverse variables of interest a pH, matrix composition, isoelectric point (IP) of the inorganic pore surface by organic functionalizers, we show that precipitation is comparable for the different metal sulfides where transport in the mesoporosity and the electrical charge of the surface as well as the solvent controls the physicochemical response of the system and consequently the loading in the MPO film. Through a thorough combination of adequate characterization techniques, it is possible to conclude that MPO thin films are adequate platforms for the efficient removal of cations dissolved in water and even in organic solvents.