The SiO2-CaCl2 hybrid porous materials were prepared by the sol-gel method. This process was conducted by the hydrolysis and condensation of Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by replacement of ethanol from alcogel and drying at the ambient temperature to obtain xerogel structure. The alcogel samples were synthesized from TEOS, EtOH, H2O, HCl, NH4OH and CaCl2, while the total molar ratio of the compounds was 1: 9: 4: 8 x 10-4, 8 x 10-3, respectively. Xerogel containing 30 wt% of CaCl2 (dry matter) was prepared and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Furier Transmittance Infra Red spectrum (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA ) systems. The results obtained from SEM and EDX showed the micrograph of CaCl2 on the silica and chemical elemental analysis, respectively. On the other hand, The TEM micrograph confirmed average particle size of SiO2-CaCl2 about 50 nm and FT-IR spectrum described the functional groups of the nanocomposite. The thermal analysis of SiO2-CaCl2 nanocomposite was performed using TGA system and the results showed that the suitable temperature for initial thermal treatment was about 200oC.

This work is focused on synthesis of SiO2- CNT hybrides via sol-gel method. Homogeneous distribution of carbon nanotubes within silicon matrix was obtained by mixing the functionalized carbon nanotube (CNTCOOH)with active silicic acid followed by titration to the solution of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) under the average temperature condition of 80 oC. Different ratios of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and various concentrations of colloidal silica were used for synthesis of SiO2-CNT. Powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) used for studying the structure and morphological characteristics of the synthesized SiO2-CNT hybrids. The results showed that the various morphologies of SiO2-CNTs are obtained with different ratio of precursors. The SEM images indicated the formation of uniform nanoparticles, nanowires and nanotube structures in various samples. In addition, the hydrogen storage capacity and thermal conductivity of SiO2-CNT hybrides were determined and presented in this article. Also total pore volume and BET surface area were calculated for these composites.

One distinct concentration of copper ions was embedded into the silica matrix to xerogel form using copper source Cu (NO3)23H2O. The xerogel samples were prepared with using hydrolysis and condensation reactions of TetraEthyl Ortho-Silicate (TEOS) by the sol-gel method. In this investigation, new molar ratio of H2O/TEOS was determined to be 11.7. Also, the necessary amount of tri-hydrated copper nitrate was added to the solution in such a manner that the concentration of the copper oxide in final solution reach to 10 wt. %. The prepared samples were characterized by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), surface area measurement (using BET method) and Thermal Program Reduction (TPR) methods. Finally, catalytic behavior of nano-composites was studied towards carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen monoxide (NO) oxidation and di-nitrogen oxide (N2O) decomposition reactions. The results were presented the systematic reactivity study of CO, NO oxidation and N2O decomposition on dispersed copper oxide nano-catalysts over silica supports, in order to determine the ability of these materials to convert carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide and di-nitrogen oxide to harmless species by different reaction paths at different temperatures.

The silica supported platinum nanoparticles was synthesized by using the sol-gel method. The possibility of using diamminedinitro platinum (II) as Pt precursor and effect of metal precursor concentration on the final Pt nanoparticle size was investigated. A stable silica sol was prepared via hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a metal alchoxide and condensation reaction. Subsequently, diamminedinitro platinum (II) was added to sol to form the Pt/silica sol. After drying and calcination of the sol, the Pt/SiO2 nanocpmposite has been obtained. Crystallographic information and crystalline size of the synthesized Pt/SiO2 were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Morphology of the nanoparticles and hydrogen-bonding interaction between silanol groups and amine ligands were characterized by SEM and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, respectively. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was employed in evaluating the distribution and size of the platinum nanoparticles in the silica.