Synthesis and properties of porous ester-silica nanoparticles

Ester-silica nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using a facile two-surfactant synthesis route in neutral medium involving silica (tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS) and organosilica (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl 5-(trimethoxysilyl)pentanoate, PMe) precursors. The ester hydrolysis generates carboxylic acid groups, which confer strongly negative zeta potential to the NPs at pH. extent of during was quantified by FTIR. NP size shown be highly dependent on hydrodynamic factors such as stir bar stirring speed, enabling fine-tune diameter. textural properties could monitored appropriate fraction x precursor, = [TEOS]/([TEOS]+2 [PMe]). For with higher than 0.5, significant porosity observed, mesoporosity appearing for ? 0.7. physicochemical materials open applications water pollution abatement specific organic compounds. This is exemplified efficient adsorption rhodamine B from liquid phase due their parameters, including high surface area porosity, strong electrostatic forces lipophilicity pore walls.