Solvent accommodation effect on dispersibility of metal oxide nanoparticle with chemisorbed organic shell

Takaaki Tomai; Naoya Tajima; Motoyuki Kimura; Akira Yoko; Gimyeong Seong; Tadafumi Adschiri

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.014

Solvent accommodation effect on dispersibility of metal oxide nanoparticle with chemisorbed organic shell

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2021 Apr:587:574-580. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.014. Epub 2020 Nov 7.

Authors

Takaaki Tomai¹, Naoya Tajima², Motoyuki Kimura², Akira Yoko³, Gimyeong Seong⁴, Tadafumi Adschiri⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. Electronic address: takaaki.tomai.e6@tohoku.ac.jp.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-07 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
³ WPI - Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
⁴ New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, 6-6-10 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
⁵ Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan; WPI - Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan; New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, 6-6-10 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan. Electronic address: tadafumi.ajiri.b1@tohoku.ac.jp.

PMID: 33250177
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.014

Abstract

The dispersibility of nanoparticles in solvents remains difficult to predict and control. In this paper, the dispersibility of organically-modified nanoparticles in various solvents with different solvent properties and molecular sizes are investigated. The study indicates that solvent molecular size, in addition to the affinity between organic modifier and solvent molecules, affects the dispersibility of the nanoparticles. The experimental results imply that solvents with molecular size small enough can disperse nanoparticles more efficiently. In addition, based on the concept that solvent accommodation induces the enhancement of dispersibility, two approaches to improve nanoparticle dispersibility in desired solvents are proposed. One is the addition of a small amount of solvent with the right size and properties to both penetrate the modifier shell and to act as intermediate between the desired solvent and the organic modifier molecules. The other is dual-molecule modification to create additional space at modifier-shell surface for the penetration of the desired solvent molecules. The results of these approaches based on the concept of the solvent accommodation can enhance the dispersibility trends.

Keywords: Dispersion; Nanoparticles; Solubility parameters; Solvent accomodation; Surface modification.