Abstract: Improved area decontamination products and methods of use thereof are provided which include reactive nanoparticles (e.g., metal oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof) with one or more biocides and a liquid carrier for the nanoparticles and biocide(s). The products may be formulated for area decontamination as sprays, fogs, aerosols, pastes, gels, wipes or foams, and the presence of reactive nanoparticles enhances the neutralization of undesirable chemical or biological compounds or agents. The nanoparticles may be from the group consisting of the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, actinide and lanthanide oxides and hydroxides and mixtures thereof. In preferred forms, nanocrystalline oxides and hydroxides of Al, Ca, Ce, Mg, Sr, Sn, Ti and Zn are employed having single crystallite sizes of up to about 20 nm and surface areas of at least about 15 m2/g.

Abstract: Improved area decontamination products and methods of use thereof are provided which include reactive nanoparticles (e.g., metal oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof) with one or more biocides and a liquid carrier for the nanoparticles and biocide(s). The products may be formulated for area decontamination as sprays, fogs, aerosols, pastes, gels, wipes or foams, and the presence of reactive nanoparticles enhances the neutralization of undesirable chemical or biological compounds or agents. The nanoparticles may be from the group consisting of the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, actinide and lanthanide oxides and hydroxides and mixtures thereof. In preferred forms, nanocrystalline oxides and hydroxides of Al, Ca, Ce, Mg, Sr, Sn, Ti and Zn are employed having single crystallite sizes of up to about 20 nm and surface areas of at least about 15 m2/g.

Abstract: Multiple-component solid compositions including at least two intermingled, different solid oxides or hydroxides are provided which have extremely small crystallite sizes (at least one of the materials exhibits a crystallite size of about zero to 4 nm) and large surface areas. The compositions comprise at least two molecularly intermingled nanocrystalline materials selected from the group consisting of the oxides and hydroxides of the elements of Groups IIA, IIIA, IVA, the transition metals and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table. The compositions are synthesized by separately preparing alkoxide solutions which are then mixed and hydrolyzed to give a gel; the gel is then treated to yield the desired hydroxide or oxide final composition. The compositions are useful for sorption of target materials such as undesireable compounds or biological materials. Extremely high surface area aluminum oxides having BET surface areas of at least about 700 m2/g are also disclosed.