Journal of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Technology

Journal of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Technology

Optimization of Silica Synthesis via Stöber Method: Effects of CTAC, Temperature, and Reaction Time on Spherical Particle Size

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Department of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Jalal Al Ahmad Highway, P.O. Box 14155-4838, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Monodisperse ORMOSIL particles with a size of 0.4-7.5 μm were synthesized in a single-step, low-temperature homogeneous solution reaction using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the precursor, base catalyst (triethylamine), and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) surfactant. In the current study, the influence of three significant parameters (CTAC surfactant content, reaction duration, and synthesis temperature) was systematically investigated to have precise control over particle size and shape. The result showed that increased concentration of the CTAC reduced particle size, whereas increased temperature and longer reaction duration favored larger particle size and increased sphericity. In addition, the ORMOSIL particles synthesized were thermally treated at 600 °C to remove organic species and yield highly pure silica particles with a monodisperse particle size. We achieved precise control over particle size and morphology by varying CTAC concentration, temperature, and reaction time. The strategy offers advantages in scalability and ease and allows for precise tuning of particle properties for different applications in drug delivery, catalysis, electronics, and nanocomposites. The findings of this study form a foundation for the synthesis design of multidimensional silica particles with tunable properties, which would provide exciting opportunities for future industrial and applied research applications.
Keywords

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