Synthetic Opals or Versatile Nanotools—A One-Step Synthesis of Uniform Spherical Silica Particles

Abstract

Synthetic opals, a composition of homogeneous silica spheres in the mesoscale size range, have attracted the attention of scientists due to their favorable chemical and physical properties. Their chemical inertness and stability, biocompatibility, homogeneity, elevated specific surface area, and ease of functionalization of their surfaces make them a versatile nanotool. In the present study, the Stöber process was used to investigate the effect of parameters, such as reagent concentration and synthesis temperature, on the resulting silica particle size and structure. The optimal conditions for successfully obtaining homogeneous particles in the mesoscale range with high reproducibility were investigated. Several synthesis procedures and their dependence on the reaction temperature were presented to allow the selection of the assumed diameter of silica spheres. The numerous samples obtained were examined for size, homogeneity, structure, and specific surface area. On the basis of specific surface area measurements and nuclear magnetic resonance studies, the internal hierarchical structure of the spherical silica was confirmed as consisting of a solid core and layers of secondary spheres covered by a solid shell. Structural studies (X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure, and nuclear magnetic resonance), together with infrared vibrational spectroscopy, showed no dependence of the structure of the obtained mesospheres on the concentration of reagents and the size of the obtained particles.