SAXS studies on silica nanoparticle aggregation in a humid atmosphere

Author(s)

Ewa Partyka-Jankowska, Sabine Leroch, Johanna Akbarzadeh, Silvia Pabisch, Martin Wendland, Herwig Peterlik

Abstract

The influence of varying moisture conditions on the properties of amorphous silica nanoparticles was investigated. 10 nm silica particles in powder form were measured by small-angle X-ray scattering at different relative humidities ranging from 20 to 84 % at 45 °C. The data were analyzed using the generalized inverse Fourier transform method which enables separation of intra- and interparticle contribution to the scattering intensities. The former accounts for shape, size, homogeneity, and polydispersity of scattered nanoscaled objects, the latter describes the forces acting between the particles in the system. Formation of a water layer, of a thickness depending on the water content, covering the silica spheres has been detected. The pair correlation function derived from the structure factor shows a higher degree of structural order with increasing relative humidity. A model of ordering of silica nanoparticles is proposed.

Organisation(s)

Dynamics of Condensed Systems

External organisation(s)

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung

Journal

Journal of Nanoparticle Research: an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology

Volume

16

No. of pages

9

ISSN

1388-0764

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2642-5

Publication date

2014

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103015 Condensed matter, 104017 Physical chemistry, 210006 Nanotechnology

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Condensed Matter Physics, Bioengineering, Chemistry(all), Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Materials Science(all), Modelling and Simulation

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/saxs-studies-on-silica-nanoparticle-aggregation-in-a-humid-atmosphere(2d92daf0-8038-49f9-a2df-7a133f46393e).html