Self-Catalyzed Synthesis of Organo-Silica Nanoparticles

A procedure has been developed which utilizes aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) as the catalyst and a comonomer in the production of hybrid organo-silica nanoparticles. Particles ranging from ca. 100 to 500 nm can be prepared using organo-silanes of the type R'Si(OR)₃, where R'= Me, vinyl, allyl, or other hydrophobic groups and R = Me or Et, in a water/surfactant solution. Based on elemental analysis, up to 10 mol% of APS was incorporated into the siloxane particle network. It is thought that the amino groups are located mainly on the surface due to their hydrophilicity and APS' relatively slow rate of hydrolysis and condensation.