Formation of grafted surface layers on silicon dioxide particles and their investigation by means of thermoprogrammed oxidation

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles are obtained according to the Stober–Fink–Bohn method, and their surfaces are chemically modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane. It is estimated that sols of porous silica nanoparticles (average sizes, 50–200 nm) form during primary chemical process; the average size of the particles can be increased to 400–500 nm by consecutive growth. Oxythermography (thermoprogrammed oxidation) measurements reveal a stepped dependence between the content of organic substance of nanoparticles and the duration of chemical modification reaction exists. It is concluded that this could be due to the formation of dense shell (or shells) as a result of sols aging between the cycles of growth; such shells impose diffusive restrictions when molecules penetrate into the pores of the internal volume of the particles.