Preparation of Silica Micro-Spheres in Hydroxypropylcellulose Solutions (2) Characterization of the Prepared Silica Micro-Spheres.

Abstract

Silica micro-spheres were synthesized by using NH3 as a catalyst in hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) solution through the hydrolysis and condensation polymerization of tetraethoxysilane.The surface compositions of the obtained particles were analyzed qualitatively by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).The nitrogen gas adsorption, the specific surface area measurements, and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations were carried out for the calcined particles.From the XPS results, it was concluded that HPC molecules were chemically adsorbed on the surfaces of the silica particles.For the calcined particles, meso-pores were formed after decomposition of the adsorbed HPC.The adsorption of the N2 gas and the specific surface area increased as increasing HPC added in the synthes is of the particles.The effect of HPC addition on increase of the specific surface area was remarkable in the case when n-butanol was used as solvent rather than ethanol.These results could be explained by the extent of the interaction between HPC and silica precursor.It was also examined for the particle formation and growth mechanism in the HPC solutions.