Structure of MnO nanoparticles embedded into channel-type matrices

X-ray diffraction experiments were performed on MnO confined in mesoporous silica SBA-15 and MCM-41 matrices with different channel diameters. The measured patterns were analyzed by profile analysis and compared to numerical simulations of the diffraction from confined nanoparticles. From the lineshape and the specific shift of the diffraction reflections it was shown that the embedded objects form ribbon-like structures in the SBA-15 matrices with channels diameters of 47–87 Å, and nanowire-like structures in the MCM-41 matrices with channels diameters of 24–35 Å. In the latter case the confined nanoparticles appear to be narrower than the channel diameters. The physical reasons for the two different shapes of the confined nanoparticles are discussed. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2005