Synthesis of nanoscale silicon oxide oxidation state distributions: The transformation from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity

• Published in: Chemical physics letters 2016-06, Vol.653 (C), p.137-143
• Main Authors: Laminack, William, Gole, James L., White, Mark G., Ozdemir, Serdar, Ogden, Andrew G., Martin, Holly J., Fang, Zongtang, Wang, Tsang-Hsiu, Dixon, David A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hydrophilic; Hydrophobic; Nanostructures; Oxidation state changes; Reflectance infrared spectroscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Silicon oxide; Thermogravimetric analysis; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2016.04.079

[Display omitted] •Transformation of silicon oxide nanoparticles from hydrophobic to hydrophilic.•Correlation of water absorption with the Si/O ratio.•Characterization of silicon oxide nanoparticles by a broad range of techniques.•Oxidation state for nanostructured oxides shifts from +III to combination of +II and +III. Silicon oxide nanostructures which span the range from hydrophilic to hydrophobic have been synthesized. The surface chemistry of these silicon-based nanostructures was analyzed using a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflectance infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The dominant oxidation state for the nanostructured oxides shifts from an average oxidation state of +III to a combination of +II and +III oxidation states. A correlation of the ability to adsorb water with variations in the surface Si:O ratios was observed showing a transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic character.