Nanomaterials (Jun 2023)

Nanoarhitectonics of Inorganic–Organic Silica–Benzil Composites: Synthesis, Nanocrystal Morphology and Micro-Raman Analysis

  • Yaroslav Shchur,
  • Andrii Bendak,
  • Guillermo Beltramo,
  • Anatoliy S. Andrushchak,
  • Svetlana Vitusevich,
  • Denys Pustovyj,
  • Bouchta Sahraoui,
  • Yurii Slyvka,
  • Andriy V. Kityk

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131913
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 13
p. 1913

Abstract

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The synthesis of nanosized organic benzil (C6H5CO)2 crystals within the mesoporous SiO2 host matrix was investigated via X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and ab initio lattice dynamics analysis. Combining these methods, we have proved that the main structural properties of benzil nanocrystals embedded into SiO2 host membranes with pore diameters of 6.0, 7.8, 9.4, and 13.0 nm are preserved compared to a bulk benzil crystal. Space confinement has an insignificant impact on the lattice vibrational properties of benzil crystals implanted into the host matrices. The ab initio lattice dynamics calculation of the phonon spectrum in the Brillouin zone center shows the mechanical and dynamical stability of benzil lattice, revealing very low optical frequency of 11 cm−1 at point Γ.

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