Can we add amine group from APTES to the surface of pure Si nano particles instead of silica? If yes, what is the suitable solvent and method to do so?
Hello,
I suggest you use toluene as a solvent. Place the silica in the flask, add toluene and aptes. The whole is stirred on a magnetic stirrer under the water condenser for 2 hours at 100 °C.
Thanks Malgorzata for your suggestion, but is this method work for pure silicon nanoparticle. I am trying to modified pure Si nanoparticles, not silica.
APTES works for pure silicon too. In atomic force spectroscopy of biomolecules it is used for attachment of the molecules to silicon AFM cantilevers. Toluene, evaporation in a vacuum chamber or even fresh water solution of APTES (about 1%) is a conventional way. A typical protocol of silicon AFM cantilever functionalization:
- 10 min in 1% APTES solution
- rinse with deionized water
- 10 min in 1% glutaraldehyde solution
- rinse with deionized water
- 10 min in protein (about 0.1 mg/ml) solution
- rinse with a buffer
It should work for silicon particles too.
Good luck!
The surface of the silicon particle has silica unless you keep the particles away from oxygen and water.
Pure silicon does not possess Si-OH groups. So, prior to the APTES modification the surface should be rehydroxylated by UV/ozonation or probably by re-fluxing in HCl solution.
For details please see the following papers:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262018625_Robust_and_selective_nano_cavities_for_protein_separation_An_interpenetrating_polymer_network_modified_hierarchically_protein_imprinted_hydrogel
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283116588_Modification_of_silicon_nitride_surfaces_with_GOPES_and_APTES_for_antibody_immobilization_Computational_and_experimental_studies
I have meant a thin silica layer which usually exists on the silicon surface. Sometimes it is enough for APTES functionalization without any additional preparations.
From the fundamental point of view, obviously, pure Si surface doesn't have Si-OH groups, as Dr. Nematollahzadeh said. But it is a well-known fact in surface chemistry, that ideal pure surfaces just do not exist :)
An old good article about parameters of APTES deposition:
Article Structure of 3-Aminopropyl Triethoxy Silane on Slicon Oxide
From my experience, the best way is to use just fresh (it is important) 1% APTES water solution.
Thank you very much for all the response. I am now have a clearer images on the surface modification.
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