The effect of nanoparticle growth on rheological properties of silica and silicate dispersions

CdS and ZnS nanoparticles were prepared in the solid-liquid interfacial ads orption layer as a nanophase reactor. The substrates were hydrophilic and h ydrophobic aerosils and hydrophilic layer silicates dispersed in ethanol-cy clohexane mixtures. The growth of particles at various surface concentratio n of precursor ions was monitored by absorption spectroscopy, band-gap-ener gy measurements and particle diameter measurements. Also, the rheological p roperties of nanoparticle-support composites in organic and aqueous dispers ions were measured. The energy of separation between the nanoparticles depe nded on the particle diameter. The intercalation of nanoparticles in the la yered silicates yielded a nanostructured two-phase system. The presence of semiconductive subcolloids was proven by transmission electron microscopy m easurements, which offer an excellent possibility for the determination of the particle size distribution.