Growth of silica particles in surfactant gel

Growth of silica particles produced by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in gels of the cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide ( CTAB), was investigated by static light scattering and dynamic light scatte ring measurements. The time evolution of the size of the silica particles w as estimated by the static and the dynamic correlation lengths obtained fro m the two measurements. Both the growth rate and the final size were smalle r at higher concentrations of CTAB, indicating that a more confined network exerted a more restrictive effect on the particle growth. The random motio n of silica particles was more severely restricted when the particle was la rger and the network mesh size was smaller at higher CTAB concentrations. T his restriction of movement resulted in the cessation of the growth of sili ca particles.