The composition and thermal behavior of nanodispersed silica synthesized by micellar technology

Morphology, particle size, and thermal behavior of silicic acid synthesized as gel by micellar technology were determined. It was found that the micellar synthesis using a smaller-molecule solvent, organic acid with shorter hydrocarbon (hydrophobic) part, as surfactant and silicate with smaller-radius cation yields silica gel with smaller particle size and, as consequence, increases silica dispersity. The differential thermal analysis of the synthesized silica gel showed that for samples with lesser particle size the phase transition temperatures are decreased by about 30–100°C.