title: Existence of a lower critical radius for incorporation of silica particles into zinc during electro-codeposition.
abstract: Recently, it was shown that the surface modification of silica particles with -SH functional groups enables their electro-codeposition with zinc. Here, however, we report that no incorporation into Zn can be observed for such modified particles with diameters of <100 nm, while incorporation is possible for particles with diameters of 225 nm and larger. Furthermore, when silica particles are functionalized with mixtures of -SH and -Cl functional groups, which affect the interface energy at the particle/metal interface differently but have similar interfacial energies for the particle/electrolyte interface, it is found that, for successful incorporation of the particles, a minimum amount of -SH functional groups is needed. An explanation for these observations has been derived based on energetic considerations regarding the interfaces involved in the process.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Tabrisur R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ashokanand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vimalanandan
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbe
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohwerder
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004595:Electroplating / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010316:Particle Size; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015032:Zinc