Synthesis and characterisation of ambient pressure dried composites of silica aerogel matrix and embedded nickel nanoparticles

A method for the synthesis of silica aerogel composites with embedded nickel nanoparticles employing ambient pressure drying is successfully developed. Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) are introduced into the sol–gel processing of a tetraethoxysilane precursor to produce the immobilised nickel nanoparticles. The microstructures of the aerogel products are studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Specific surface area of the aerogels was characterised with nitrogen gas adsorption and analysed by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. X-ray diffraction and STEM-based energy-dispersive X-ray mapping determined chemical composition. The catalytic activity of the NiNPs-silica aerogel composites for hydration reaction of carbon dioxide in water is verified.