Synthesis and Characterization of Si–Al, Si–Ti, Si–Zr, Al–Zr, Al–Ti, and Al–Ti–Zr Nanocomposites of Lamellar or Hexagonal Structure

By using tetraethylortosilicate, titanium and zirconium tetrabutoxide, and aluminum sec-butoxide, as well as neutral 1,10 and 1,12 alkyldiamines or dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide as precursors, a series of six oxides, Si–Al, Si–Ti, Si–Zr, Al–Zr, Al–Ti, and Al–Ti–Zr, were obtained. These materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction patterns, and scanning electron microscopy. Si–Ti, Si–Zr, and Al–Ti matrices exhibit a lamellar structure, whereas the others have a hexagonal nature. With the exception of the Al–Ti matrix for which grains with spheric morphology are observed, all the other matrices exhibited grains with amorphous nature, as observed by SEM micrographs.