Size distribution of silica nanoparticles: its impact on green energy

The kinetics of formation of silica fractal-like aggregates during combustion of a stoichiometric methane/air mixture with the hexamethyldisiloxane admixture is studied. Oxidation of hexamethyldisiloxane proceeds very fast with formation of SiO2 molecules and compact silica clusters at a height of a few millimeters above the burner. At a sufficiently high concentration of hexamethyldisiloxane random collisions of nanoparticles leads to agglomerates with fractal-like structure. The transmission electron microscopy is combined with the theoretical analysis to find conditions for formation of silica fractal-like aggregates. The onset of fractal aggregate formation is discussed by studying the characteristic time scales of collisions and coalescence. One dimensional model is formulated to describe the evolution of the size distribution of fractal-like silica particles undergoing generation, convection, sintering and Smoluchowski coagulation. The simulation results are compared to experimental data. 1Department of Applied Physics, Zernike Institute for Advances Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands. E-mail address corresponding author: Jeff Th M De Hossson: nanostructures@rug.nl 2National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics & Technology,” Akademichna str. 1, UA-61108 Kharkiv, Ukraine 3DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability, Nederland B.V., P.O. Box 2029, 9704 CA Groningen, The Netherlands 4Laboratory for High Temperature Energy Conversion Processes, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands