Colloidal silica particles with bimodal final size distribution: Ion-induced nucleation mechanism

Colloidal silica particles with bimodal size distribution have been prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate in alcoholic solutions of water and ammonia as catalyst. Experimental conditions such as concentration of NaCl, amount of water and reaction temperature were investigated to reveal the formation mechanism of the colloidal silica particles. The nucleation process of colloidal silica particles with bimodal size distribution depends on the hydrolysis rate of TEOS and the ionic strength of reaction media. The hydrolysis reaction is the rate-limiting step during the nucleation process. Nucleation involving background ions generated by TEOS hydrolysis reaction and addition of electrolyte(NaCl) is another potentially important factor for nucleation process of electrically charged clusters. A critical value of ionic strength exists in the reaction to form bimodal size distribution particles.