Simulated synthesis of silica nanowires by lyotropic liquid crystal template method

ABSTRACT

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations were adopted to study the mechanism of lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) formation and the synthesis process of silica nanowires by LLC template method. Simulation results show that the one-dimensional (1D) LLC channel can be formed at the Pluronic F127 concentration range of 61 ∼ 67%. With the increase of Pluronic F127 concentration, the diameter of LLC channel decreases and the deformation degree increases. The effect of PEO: PPO ratio on the diameter of LLC channel is slight. The appropriate PEO: PPO ratio of Pluronic is 40:70 for the formation of 1D LLC channel, as the deformation degree of channel is the smallest in this case. The effect of polymerisation degree on the diameter and deformation degree of LLC channel is both little. With the increase of TEOS concentration, the nanowire diameter increases rapidly at first, and then increases quite slowly. This work can provide guidance for silica nanowires synthesis by LLC template method.

KEYWORDS:

• Silica nanowires
• dissipative particle dynamics
• lyotropic liquid crystal
• computer simulation

Acknowledgements

This work is supported from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21776093 and 51936005). An allocation time from the SCUTGrid at South China University of Technology is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number: 21776093,51936005].