Macromolecule mediated rapid synthesis of amorphous germania particles

Patwardhan, S V and Clarson, S J (2003) Macromolecule mediated rapid synthesis of amorphous germania particles. Abstracts of papers - American Chemical Society, 226. U762-U762. ISSN 0065-7727

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Abstract

The unique optical properties of germanium dioxide or germania (GeO2), and in particular when compared with other glasses such as silicates, have attracted the attention of scientists and make them highly suitable for optoelectronic applications. Germanium is known to resemble silicon in some of its chemical properties. The recent findings on the importance of the role of the (bio)macromolecules in (bio)mineralization has led us to investigate the role of synthetic macromolecules in facilitating the formation of germania particles for the first time. One novelty is that the process described herein was carried out under ambient conditions and at neutral pH. Amorphous spherical germania particles were seen by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, when the reaction mixture was subjected to external shear, the formation of elongated rod-like germania structures was successfully achieved. This novel process is of importance for the design of new materials based on germania and silica-germania hybrids for potential applications such as their use in optical fibers.

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