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Synthesis and characterization of low-cost hierarchical porous silica by nanoemulsion templating: influence of nanoemulsion volume and hydrodynamic diameter

  • Original Paper: Nano- and macroporous materials (aerogels, xerogels, cryogels, etc.)
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Abstract

Silica as a stable and biocompatible material has attracted a great deal of interest, particularly concerning the synthesis of porous silica. Hierarchical Porous Silica (HPS) can be synthesized through nanoemulsion templating and sol–gel. The oil droplets of NE acted as a pore-forming agent and the sol-gel built the matrix around the oil droplets. The O/W-NE was prepared by the phase inversion composition (PIC) method. The effect of nanoemulsion volume (2.5, 25, and 50) and the effect of oil droplet diameter (65, 105, 150, 200, and 400 nm) on the HPS was studied. Samples were characterized by many characterization techniques. The microstructure of the samples is versatile with macropores distributed homogenously through the mesoporous silica matrix or hollow macroporous spheres. Both volume and hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoemulsions influence the microstructure through the oil/water interfacial area. The surface area ranges between 158 and 281 m2/g and the pore volume is between 0.63 and 6.59 cc/g.

Highlights

  • Role of sodium silicate concentration/interfacial area is crucial.

  • Hierarchical porous silica with a macroporous matrix or hollow spheres.

  • Surface area ranges from 158 to 281 m2/g.

  • The pore volume ranges between 0.63 and 6.59 cc/g.

  • Surface roughness for pure silica is 2.48 and increases to 2.95 by nanoemulsion templating.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia

    Manal Hessien

  2. University of Waterloo and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology (WIN), 200 University Av. West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Eric Prouzet

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Appendix 1: Example for calculation of determining interface area between oil and water

Appendix 1: Example for calculation of determining interface area between oil and water

Taking the O-1-NE sample as an example, it contains 10 g of paraffin oil, with density of 0.86 g/cm3, which results in volume of 11.63 cm3 = 11.63 × 1021 nm3. Diameter of oil droplet of this nanoemulsion equals to 400 nm and radius of 200 nm. Volume of one oil droplet is 33.5 × 106 nm3. Number of oil droplets equals to the total oil volume divided by the volume of one oil droplet. The number of oil droplets is 3.47 × 1014. The surface area of one droplet is about 5 × 105 nm2 and the total surface area of all oil droplets which is the total interface area between oil and water is equal to surface area of one droplet multiply by total number of droplets = 174 m2.

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Hessien, M., Prouzet, E. Synthesis and characterization of low-cost hierarchical porous silica by nanoemulsion templating: influence of nanoemulsion volume and hydrodynamic diameter. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 99, 63–74 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-021-05543-9

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