Nanopowders of Metallic Oxides Prepared by the Hydrolytic Route with Starch Stabilization and Biological Abetment

Sn, Sn–Sb, Ti, Zr, Fe, Ce and In oxides are prepared as nanometric powders by the hydrolytic route, starting from their ordinary salts or alkoxides, in the presence of 5% w/v starch as a non-ionic stabilizer of crystallization nuclei versus coalescence and flocculation. The starch can be degraded by α-amylase to soluble glucosidic oligomers, which may further be degraded by yeast to CO₂ and ethanol. The nanoparticle features of prepared oxides result from experimental evidence based on X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry coupled to mass spectrometry, specific surface area and porosity of samples obtained by curing in the 80–600 °C interval.