Silica particle formation in confined environments via bioinspired polyamine catalysis at near-neutral pH

The incorporation of a branched polyamine, poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and monosilic acid into spherical reverse micelles (RMs) by bis(2-ethylehexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT)as a means for bioinspired silica growth, was investigated. Bis(2-ethylehexyl)sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT), PEI, isooctane, 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS), tetremethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) were used and their sizes were determined with QELS Batch 1.0.3.2 software. SEM was performed using HItachi 4500 on samples dropcasted and sputtered with 30 10-10m of Au/Pd. Solutions of AOT in isooctane were stored over activated molecular sieves. RMs were prepared by the addition of aqueous PEI or silicic acid solutions to 0.1M AOT. It was observed that the size of RM affect the attractive interaction between water pool due to decreased coalescence. Result shows that the condensation of monosillic acid eliminated water, which dynamically alter the structure of RM during particle growth.