An Effective and Environmentally Friendly Method for Surface Modification of Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles by Biodegradable Diacids Derived From Different Amino Acids

Abstract

Commercially available silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles (NP)s were modified by chiral diacid coupling agents by ultrasonic irradiation. The acid groups can interact with the hydroxyl groups on the surface of SiO₂ NPs. The interaction between NPs and diacid was confirmed by several techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The FE-SEM of the modified SiO₂ NPs showed that the obtained particles have spherical nanostructured morphology with particle size from 21–57 nm. The TEM image showed homogenous dispersion of particles with little aggregation.

Keywords:

• SiO₂ nanoparticles
• ultrasonic irradiation
• chiral DAs
• modification of SiO₂

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Research Affairs Division Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), for financial support. Further financial support from Center of Excellency in Sensors and Green Chemistry Research (IUT) is gratefully acknowledged.