Preparation of Monodispersed and Nano-Sized Spherical SiO<sub>2</sub> Particles by Emulsion Method

Abstract

Spherical nano-sized SiO2 particles have been synthesized from sodium silicate by emulsion method. The influence of emulsifier content and mixing time on the morphology and particle size distribution of the resulting materials was investigated. The characteristics of the obtained SiO2 particles were examined by means of XRD, SEM, TEM, and PSA. The monodispersed shperical SiO2 with the average particle size 20 nm was obtained at a emulsifer content of 3vol% and mixing time of 60 min using ultrasonic disruptor. After calcining at 1200oC for 2 hrs, the amorphous SiO2 transformed wholly to the crystalline cristobalite. As increase in emulsifier content from 1 to 3 vol% did not nearly influence on the morphology of SiO2 particle but slightly changed the particle size distribution. The average particle size of SiO2 decreased significantly from 100 nm to 20 nm with increasing the mixing time.