Surface hydrophobicity: effect of alkyl chain length and network homogeneity

doi:10.1007/s11705-020-2003-0

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2021, Vol. 15

Issue (1) : 90-98 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-020-2003-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Surface hydrophobicity: effect of alkyl chain length and network homogeneity

Wenqian Chen¹(

), Vikram Karde¹, Thomas N. H. Cheng¹, Siti S. Ramli², Jerry Y. Y. Heng¹

¹. Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
². Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

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Abstract

Understanding the nature of hydrophobicity has fundamental importance in environmental applications. Using spherical silica nanoparticles (diameter= 369 ± 7 nm) as the model material, the current study investigates the relationship between the alkyl chain network and hydrophobicity. Two alkyl silanes with different chain length (triethoxymethylsilane (C1) vs. trimethoxy(octyl)silane (C8)) were utilised separately for the functionalisation of the nanoparticles. Water contact angle and inverse gas chromatography results show that the alkyl chain length is essential for controlling hydrophobicity, as the octyl-functionalised nanoparticles were highly hydrophobic (water contact angle= 150.6° ± 6.6°), whereas the methyl-functionalised nanoparticles were hydrophilic (i.e., water contact angle= 0°, similar to the pristine nanoparticles). The homogeneity of the octyl-chain network also has a significant effect on hydrophobicity, as the water contact angle was reduced significantly from 148.4° ± 3.5° to 30.5° ± 1.0° with a methyl-/octyl-silane mixture (ratio= 160:40 µL·g^–1 nanoparticles).

Keywords hydrophobicity surface energy wettability alkyl chain network silica nanoparticle

Corresponding Author(s): Wenqian Chen

Just Accepted Date: 25 August 2020 Online First Date: 05 November 2020 Issue Date: 12 January 2021

Cite this article:

Wenqian Chen,Vikram Karde,Thomas N. H. Cheng, et al. Surface hydrophobicity: effect of alkyl chain length and network homogeneity[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(1): 90-98.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-020-2003-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2021/V15/I1/90

Fig.1 (a) TEM and (b) SEM images of Stöber nanoparticles.

Fig.2 Triethoxymethylsilane (left) and trimethoxy(octyl)silane (right).

Fig.3 Water contact angle for pristine (i.e., silane:silica NP= 0 µL·g⁻¹) and modified nanoparticles (pictures showing water droplet on tablet or just tablet after the absorption of water droplet). Note: error bars are too small to be visible (e.g., 158.1°?±?0.2°).

Fig.4 Surface energy of pristine (i.e., silane:silica NP= 0), (a) methyl- and (b) octyl-functionalised silica nanoparticles.

Fig.5 The surface of (a) pristine, (b) methyl-functionalised and (c) octyl-functionalised silica nanoparticles.

Fig.6 Thermal gravimetric analysis results for pristine and modified nanoparticles (silane:silica nanoparticle ratio= 200 µL·g⁻¹ for both silanes).

Fig.7 Surface of nanoparticle functionalised with the same coverage density of octyl- and methyl-functional groups (i.e., before and after complete substitution with methyl groups).

Fig.8 (a) Water contact angle and (b) acid-base surface energy (γ_AB) for modified nanoparticles (total silane:silica NP= 200 µL·g⁻¹). Note: error bars are too small to be visible.

Fig.9 Surface energy of silica nanoparticles functionalised with triethoxymethylsilane and trimethoxy(octyl)silane mixtures (total silane:silica NP= 200 µL·g⁻¹).

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