Colloidal Silica Particles (colloidal + silica_particle)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Synthesis of Monodisperse Silica Nanoparticles Dispersable in Non-Polar Solvents,

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010
Eoin Murray
Three synthetic routes to hydrophobic silica nanoparticles are compared in this paper. First, the established synthetic method based on the Stöber process was examined. Monodisperse colloidal silica particles with diameters of 15,25,nm were prepared via the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by aqueous ammonia in ethanol. The surfaces of these particles were rendered hydrophobic with octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) after the reaction or, more conveniently, during the growth phase. Secondly, silica particles with diameters of 15,50,nm were prepared using a one-pot synthesis in which TEOS was hydrolyzed by an amino acid and the resulting particles were coated with ODTMS. Lastly a novel, direct approach to the synthesis of hydrophobic organosilica nanoparticles was developed using ODTMS as the single silica source. Hydrolysis of the ODTMS by aqueous ammonia in ethanol yielded monodisperse colloidal organosilica particles with diameters of 15,30,nm. [source]


Biomimetic Composites: Protein Localization in Silica Nanospheres Derived via Biomimetic Mineralization (Adv. Funct.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 18 2010
Mater.
Abstract Lysozyme-templated precipitation of silica synthesized by sol-gel chemistry produces a composite material with antimicrobial properties. This study investigates the structural properties of the composite material that allow for retention of the antimicrobial activity of lysozyme. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy reveal that the composite has a hierarchical structure composed of quasi-spherical structures (,450 nm diameter), which are in turn composed of closely packed spherical structures of ,8,10 nm in diameter. Using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with contrast variation, the scattering signatures of the lysozyme and silica within the composite were separated. It was determined that the lysozyme molecules are spatially correlated in the material and form clusters with colloidal silica particles. The size of the clusters determined by SANS agrees well with the structural architecture observed by TEM. BET analysis revealed that the surface area of the composite is relatively low (4.73 m2/g). However, after removal of the protein by heating to 200 °C, the surface area is increased by ,20%. In addition to demonstrating a well organized sol-gel synthesis which generates a functional material with antimicrobial applications, the analysis and modeling approaches described herein can be used for characterizing a wide range of mesoporous and ultrastructural materials. [source]


Protein Localization in Silica Nanospheres Derived via Biomimetic Mineralization

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 18 2010
Mateus B. Cardoso
Abstract Lysozyme-templated precipitation of silica synthesized by sol-gel chemistry produces a composite material with antimicrobial properties. This study investigates the structural properties of the composite material that allow for retention of the antimicrobial activity of lysozyme. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy reveal that the composite has a hierarchical structure composed of quasi-spherical structures (,450 nm diameter), which are in turn composed of closely packed spherical structures of ,8,10 nm in diameter. Using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with contrast variation, the scattering signatures of the lysozyme and silica within the composite were separated. It was determined that the lysozyme molecules are spatially correlated in the material and form clusters with colloidal silica particles. The size of the clusters determined by SANS agrees well with the structural architecture observed by TEM. BET analysis revealed that the surface area of the composite is relatively low (4.73 m2/g). However, after removal of the protein by heating to 200 °C, the surface area is increased by ,20%. In addition to demonstrating a well organized sol-gel synthesis which generates a functional material with antimicrobial applications, the analysis and modeling approaches described herein can be used for characterizing a wide range of mesoporous and ultrastructural materials. [source]


Fabrication of Freestanding Nanoporous Polyethersulfone Membranes Using Organometallic Polymer Resists Patterned by Nanosphere Lithography

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 20 2009
Canet Acikgoz
Freestanding nanoporous polysulfone membranes are fabricated using nanosphere lithography, in which colloidal silica particles act as a template for the organometallic etch resist, which is composed of poly(ferrocenylsilanes). As shown in the figure, the membranes are robust enough to be removed from the silica wafers where they were produced. They can subsequently be used to separate particles of different sizes. [source]