Three new tetrathiomolybdates (pipH₂)[MoS₄] (1), (trenH₂)[MoS₄]·H₂O (2) and [(prop)₄N]₂- [MoS₄] (3) (pip = piperazine, tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and prop = n-propyl) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray crystallography, and thermoanalysis. All compounds were prepared by the base promoted cation exchange method, i.e. by the reaction of the ammonium salt of [MoS₄]²⁻ with the corresponding organic amine or organic ammonium hydroxide. In the compounds 1 and 2 the organic amines pip and tren are diprotonated and they are linked to the tetrahedral [MoS₄]²⁻ dianions through weak hydrogen bonding interactions. The strength and number of these hydrogen bonds affect the Mo-S bond lengths and a relatively long Mo-S bond of 2.2114(8) Å is observed in 1 while the longest Mo-S bond in 2 is 2.1951(5) Å . In compound 3 no S···H-N interactions are possible and the Mo-S bond lengths scatter in a more narrow range compared to those in compounds 1 and 2. The thermal behavior was investigated using differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry. On heating compound 1 decomposes in two closely related steps while 2 loses first the crystal water followed by the decomposition of the tetrathiomolybdate. The final products are amorphous molybdenum sulfides. The decomposition of compound 3 yields a very porous material with sponge-like morphology.

Potassium hexatitanate (PHT) with chemical formula K₂Ti₆O₁₃ has a tunnel structure formed by TiO₂ octahedra sharing edges or corners and with the potassium atoms located in the tunnels. This material has attracted great interest in the areas of photocatalysis, reinforcement of materials, biomaterials, etc. This work summarizes a large number of studies about methods to prepare PHT since particle size can be modified from millimeter to nanometric scale according to the applied method. Likewise, the synthesis method has influenced the material properties as band-gap and the final mechanical performance of composites when the reinforcement is PHT. The knowing of synthesis, properties and applications of PHT is worthwhile for the design of new materials and for the development of new applications taking advantage of their inherent properties.

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials based on cellulose matrix and silica particles are obtained from wastes of the local paper recycling mill and sugarcane mill as renewable secondary raw materials. The performance comparison of these hybrid materials made from secondary raw materials against the materials made from pure, raw sources is discussed. The Fourier transform infrared spectra show that cellulose features prevail even at 43 wt% silica nanoparticles in the hybrid materials. Such a high content of silica originated from sugarcane bagasse ash and hollow glass microspheres contributes to the high thermal stability of the final composites, as seen by thermogravimetric analysis with very low water absorption. This one‐step approach of biobased hybrid materials represents an excellent way to produce high‐performance materials with high content of inorganic nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications like energy efficient building material completely cement‐free.

Hybrid bionanocomposites based on cellulose matrix, with silica nanoparticles as reinforcers, were prepared by one-pot synthesis of cellulose surface modified by solvent exchange method to keep the biopolymer net void for hosting inorganic nanoparticles. Neither expensive inorganic-particle precursors nor crosslinker agents or catalysts were used for effective dispersion of reinforcer concentration up to 50 wt %. Scanning electron microscopy of the nanocomposites shows homogeneous dispersion of reinforcers in the surface modified cellulose matrix. The FTIR spectra demonstrated the cellulose features even at 50 weight percent content of silica nanoparticles. Such a high content of silica provides high thermal stability to composites, as seen by TGA-DSC. The fungi decay resistance to Trametes versicolor was measured by standard test showing good resistance even with no addition of antifungal agents. This one-pot synthesis of biobased hybrid materials represents an excellent way for industrial production of high performance materials, with a high content of inorganic nanoparticles, for a wide variety of applications.

The objective of this work was to obtain glass-ceramics from stable glasses, with a composition of barium, lead, and potassium titanate phases, for use as semiconductors. For this purpose, the glass-ceramic technique was used to control crystal growth and obtain a fine-grained microstructure. Various glasses containing K₂O, PbO, BaO, Al₂O₃, B₂O₃, and TiO₂ were prepared using a melt-quenching method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a single amorphous phase of all samples. Infrared spectra confirmed the presence of B-O bonds stretching vibrations of (B₃O₆)³⁻ boroxol rings and BO₃ triangles, as well as Ti-O stretching vibrations of (TiO_6/2) and (AlO_6/2) octahedral units. Thermal analyses confirmed the presence of one or more crystallization peaks in the range of 700 to 744 °C. On this base, they were heat-treated to promote crystal growth. XRD and SEM detected Ba₄Ti₁₂O₂₇, Ti₇O_13, and BaTiO₃ phases, homogeneously distributed throughout the material with fine crystallite size. In addition, crystallized glasses’ (glass-ceramics) properties were determined; the density values were 2.8–3.55 g/cm³; the chemical resistance to acidic and basic media was low; and the band-gap values were in the range of 2.88 to 3.05 eV. These results suggest that crystallized glasses may have application in photocatalysis.