MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS OF SYNTHESIZED MONODISPERSE SiO2 SPHERE

Siti Nur Azella Z* and Noraini Muti M

Abstract

MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS OF SYNTHESIZED MONODISPERSE SiO₂ SPHERE

Siti Nur Azella Z^1[1] and Noraini Muti M²

¹Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department, ²Centre of Innovative Nanostructures and Nanodevices (COINN), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS,32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, MALAYSIA.

Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) has been extensively studied due to their unique properties that make it desirable for many applications ranging from electronic, catalysis, pigment as well as sensors. Multitude of methods and processes are established with the ability to manipulate and control the key properties that can cater for specific applications. Stober method is a very simple and easy for up-scale production of SiO₂. This paper presents the experimental study on the effect of synthesis parameter on the morphology of SiO₂ synthesized via Stober method. Three parameters were investigated such as concentration of catalyst, concentration of precursor and percentage of water content. The obtained samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The findings showed that the size of particles produced is dependent on the synthesis parameter. In this study, particles size ranging from 50 nm to >100 nm are easily produced. The sphere size of SiO₂ can be increased by increasing the concentration of ammonia hydroxide catalyst, the concentration of TEOS, as well as the percentage of water content.

Keywords: SiO₂, stober method, monodispersed sphere

[1] Corresponding author: Tel: +6(05)3688206; Fax. + 6(05)3655905

E-mail. azella.zaine@gmail.com