Mechanistic insight into formation and changes of nanoparticles in MgF2 sols evidenced by liquid and solid state NMR

Abstract

The fluorolytic sol–gel reaction of magnesium methoxide with HF in methanol was studied by ¹⁹F, ¹H and ¹³C liquid and solid state NMR. In ¹⁹F NMR five different species were identified, three of which belong to magnesium fluoride nanoparticles, i.e.NMR gave access to local structures of solid particles in suspensions. The long-term evolution of ¹⁹F signals was followed and along with ¹⁹F MAS NMR experiments of sols rotating at 13 kHz mechanistic insights into the ageing processes were obtained.