Diatomite materials coated with antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) were prepared by the co-precipitation method, and characterized by means of the techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption–desorption measurement. It was shown that the coated ATO possessed a tetragonal rutile crystal structure, and the ATO-coated diatomite materials had a multi-pore (micro- meso-, and macropores) architecture. The porous ATO-coated diatomite materials exhibited excellent electrical conductive behaviors. The best conductive performance (volume resistivity = 10 Ω cm) was achieved for the sample that was prepared under the conditions of Sn/Sb molar ratio = 5.2, Sn/Sb coating amount = 45 wt%, pH = 1.0, and reaction temperature = 50 °C. Such a conductive porous material is useful for the applications in physical and chemical fields.Graphical abstractAntimony-doped tin oxide (ATO)-coated diatomite with porous structures are fabricated using the co-precipitation method. The porous ATO-coated diatomite material shows excellent conductive performance.Highlights► Sb-doped SnO2 (ATO)-coated diatomite materials with porous structures are prepared. ► Sn/Sb ratio, ATO coating amount, pH value, and temperature influence resistivity. ► Porous ATO-coated diatomite materials show excellent conductive performance. ► The lowest resistivity of the porous ATO-coated diatomite sample is 10 Ω cm.

Zeolite P was synthesized for the first time via a novel water-bathing route at 90 °C using scrubbed diatomite, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum hydroxide as precursor, with SiO2/Al2O3, SiO2/Na2O, and H2O/Na2O molar ratios of 7.43, 3.81, and 80.00, respectively. The as-fabricated samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption measurements. This study showed that (i) treating the diatomite raw material with sodium hexametaphosphate could open the pores in the diatomite via removal of the clay clogged in its pores; (ii) tetragonal mesoporous zeolite P samples with a surface area of 56–60 m2/g could be generated after 6–24 h of water-bathing reaction at 90 °C; (iii) extension of water-bathing reaction time could improve the mesoporous structure of zeolite P; and (iv) Ca2+ adsorption capacity of the zeolite P sample was about 300 cmol/kg. Such high-surface-area porous zeolite P could be used as an effective adsorbent for the treatment of water containing calcium and magnesium ions.Zeolite P was synthesized via a novel water-bathing route at 90 °C using scrubbed diatomite, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum hydroxide as precursor. Such high-surface-area porous zeolite P could be used as an effective adsorbent for the treatment of water containing calcium and magnesium ions.

Nanorod-like Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 solid solutions were synthesized by a sodium dodecyl sulfate-assisted precipitation method. The samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and specific surface area measurement. Typical Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 nanorods were 40 nm in average diameter and 450 nm in length, with specific surface area and oxygen storage capacity of 194 m2/g and 374 μmol/g, respectively.Nanorod-like Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 solid solutions were synthesized by a sodium dodecyl sulfate assisted precipitation method. Typical Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 nanorods were 40 nm in average diameter and 450 nm in length, with specific surface area and oxygen storage capacity of 194 m2/g and 374 μmol/g, respectively.

Uniform nano-sized calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) monocrystal powder was synthesized from calcium oxide in a surfactant solution via a digestion method by decreasing the surface tension of the reaction system to control the growth of crystalline Ca(OH)2. The Ca(OH)2 monocrystal powder samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The NOx adsorption ability of the samples was evaluated, and the influence of various types and concentrations of surfactants on powder agglomeration and then the specific surface area in the precipitation process were studied. The specific surface area of the samples was found as high as 58 m2/g and 92 m2/g and the particle size, 300–400 nm and 200–300 nm in the presence of 10 wt% PEG600 and 0.086 mL/L SDS at a reaction time of 5 h, respectively. The product has an exceptionally strong adsorption ability for NOx, which makes it a highly promising adsorbent for emission control and air purification.Graphical abstractDownload full-size imageHighlights► Nano-size Ca(OH)2 was synthesized from CaO in the presence of PEG and SDS. ► Nano-size Ca(OH)2 samples are fabricated using digestion method. ► Nano-size Ca(OH)2 with the specific surface area as high as 58 m2/g and 92 m2/g. ► Samples P-10-5 and S-0.086-5 have uniform pore sizes of 5–14 nm and 5–9 nm. ► Samples P-10-5 and S-0.086-5 have 59.43% and 94.67% high NOx removal rate.