Approach to achieve controlled particle size synthesis of non-polar functionalised siloxane particles using a one-pot synthesis

Abstract

The homogeneous addition of functional silanes dissolved in a co-solvent such as ethanol has been shown to change particle growth mechanisms as well as control over particle size and dispersity, especially for non-polar silanes. Highly monodisperse size-controlled silica particles from 50 to over 1000 nm bearing thiol, vinyl, phenyl, propyl, cyanopropyl and chloropropyl R group functionality were synthesised directly from the corresponding single organosilane source. Observing particle growth over time revealed that it proceeded by a conventional Stöber process, where silane monomers and oligomers add to nucleation sites, resulting in particle growth. Scale-up of the homogeneous mixing approach produced gram quantities of particles without affecting size, size dispersion or functionality under good mixing. The presence and functionality of the surface R groups were confirmed by a simple second addition of reactive molecules to the particle synthesis liquor, resulting in theoretical maximum attachment densities.