Surface modification of colloidal silicon dioxide with polyantimonic acid

The study demonstrates the possibility of direct surface modification of colloidal silicon dioxide with polyantimonic acid without preliminary treatment or functionalization of the silica surface. The porosity values, bulk and pycnometric densities were determined for both mechanical mixtures of colloidal silicon dioxide with polyantimonic acid and for colloidal silicon dioxide particles that were surface-modified with polyantimonic acid. Micrographs and particle size distribution curves reveal that surface modification of colloidal silicon dioxide with polyantimonic acid results in formation of nearly monodisperse particles with size of about 100 nm. IR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of chemical bonds between the surface of colloidal silicon dioxide and polyantimonic acid.