Nucleation and growth of monodisperse silica nanoparticles.
Although monodisperse amorphous silica nanoparticles have been widely investigated, their formation mechanism is still a topic of debate. Here, we demonstrate the formation of monodisperse nanoparticles from colloidally stabilized primary particles, which at a critical concentration undergo a concerted association process, concomitant with a morphological and structural collapse. The formed assemblies grow further by addition of primary particles onto their surface. The presented mechanism, consistent with previously reported observations, reconciles the different theories proposed to date.
Laboratory of Materials and Interface Chemistry, ‡Soft Matter Cryo-TEM Research Unit, and §Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology , P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Camille C M C
CC
Carcouët
Marcel W P
MW
van de Put
Brahim
B
Mezari
Pieter C M M
PC
Magusin
Jozua
J
Laven
Paul H H
PH
Bomans
Heiner
H
Friedrich
A Catarina C
AC
Esteves
Nico A J M
NA
Sommerdijk
Rolf A T M
RA
van Benthem
Gijsbertus
G
de With