Quantification of initial steps of nucleation and growth of silica 
nanoparticles: An in-situ SAXS and DLS study

Tobler, D. J.; Shaw, S.; Benning, Liane G.

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.06.002

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Quantification of initial steps of nucleation and growth of silica nanoparticles: An in-situ SAXS and DLS study

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Tobler, D. J.
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Shaw, S.
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Benning, Liane G.
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Tobler, D. J., Shaw, S., Benning, L. G. (2009): Quantification of initial steps of nucleation and growth of silica nanoparticles: An in-situ SAXS and DLS study. - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73, 18, 5377-5393.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2009.06.002

Cite as: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_806957

Abstract

The initial steps of silica polymerization and silica nanoparticle formation have been studied in-situ and in real-time. The experiments were carried out in near neutral pH (7-8) solutions with initial silica concentrations of 640 and 1600 ppm ([SiO(2)]) and ionic strengths (IS) of 0.02, 0.05, 0.11 and 0.22 M. The polymerization reactions were induced by neutralizing a high pH silica solution (from pH 12 to 7) and monitored by the time-dependent depletion in monosilicic acid concentration over time. The accompanied nucleation and growth of silica nanoparticles (i.e., change in particle size over time) was followed in-situ using time-resolved synchrotron-based Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and conventional Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) combined with scanning and (cryo)-transmission electron microscopy (SEM/cryo-TEM). The critical nucleus diameter was quantified (1.4-2 nm) and results from SAXS and DLS showed that over 3 It the particle diameter increased to a final size of similar to 8 nm. SEM and TEM photomicrographs verified the SAXS and DLS data and confirmed the spherical and hydrous structure of the forming silica nanoparticles. Furthermore, fractal analysis (i.e., fractal dimension, D(m) similar to 2.2) indicated that the formed particles consisted of open, polymeric, low-density structures. For the nucleation and growth of silica nanoparticles a 3-stage growth process is proposed: (1) homogeneous and instantaneous nucleation of silica nanoparticles, (2) 3-D, surface-controlled particle growth following 1st order reaction kinetics and (3) Ostwald ripening and particle aggregation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.