Inverse gas chromatography applied in the surface properties evaluation of mesocellular silica foams modified by sized nickel nanoparticles.

The mesocellular silica foams (MCF) modified by different sized Ni nanoparticles (≤27.4nm) were prepared through the wetness impregnation of low metal content (0.5-2.0wt%). The technology of inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to evaluate the size effect of Ni nanoparticles on the surface property of Ni/MCF and the probes of four n-alkanes (C6-C9), cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene were tested in the 463.2-493.2K temperature range. High free energy of adsorption and enthalpy of adsorption for the aromatic hydrocarbons were found over 1.0wt% Ni/MCF with small nanoparticles of ca. 5nm. The dispersive interaction parameter γS(D), and specific interaction parameter I(sp) increase with Ni nanoparticle size decreasing over Ni/MCF. The results indicate that Ni species highly dispersed on MCF support significantly promote the surface property of the specific interaction with the aromatic structure.