Hydrophobic silica: A multifunctional material with outstanding performance

Silica, as a member of the nanomaterial family, is renowned for its high specific surface area and excellent adsorption performance. However, its strong hydrophilicity limits its application scope to a certain extent. To break through this limitation, researchers have successfully developed hydrophobic silica, making it shine in many fields.

1.Hydrophobic modification, breaking through performance bottlenecks
Hydrophobic silica is modified through a specific process by introducing hydrophobic molecules on its surface, thereby altering its strong hydrophilic property. Common modification methods include sol-gel method, solvothermal method and plasma treatment method, etc. These methods not only enhance the hydrophobic performance of silica, but also retain its high specific surface area and pore structure, ensuring the stability and reliability of the material.

2. Diverse fields, fully demonstrating unique advantages
Environmental field: It performs exceptionally well in oil-water separation. Due to its hydrophobic property, it can repel water molecules in oily wastewater systems, rapidly adsorb oil stains and aggregate into oil droplets. By precisely controlling the dosage and particle size of silica, systems with different oil-water ratios can be efficiently treated, facilitating wastewater purification and resource reuse.
In the field of materials science: It is used for preparing superhydrophobic surfaces. The modified silica is sprayed or coated on the surface of the material to form a micro-nano structured film with ultra-low surface energy. The water droplets on it form a highly spherical shape and can easily roll away dust and dirt, achieving a self-cleaning effect.
Textile industry: Functional textiles that are waterproof, oil-proof, dust-proof, etc. can be manufactured. Thanks to its ultra-high hydrophobic performance brought by its porous structure, liquids roll rapidly on its surface without being adsorbed, greatly enhancing the durability and functionality of textiles.
Construction industry: In the drainage treatment of building facades, enhance the weather resistance and anti-pollution capacity of buildings. Hydrophobic surfaces effectively reduce water intrusion, protect building materials from moisture and corrosion, and extend the service life of buildings.

3. Innovate in preparation to reduce production costs
Recently, a new preparation method has drawn attention - a mixture of heptamethyltrisiloxane and the addition of Pt catalyst, followed by heating and reaction in a microchannel reactor, and then entering the reactor for further stirring and reaction. During this process, the reaction heat of the microchannel reactor can be used to heat the reactor, remove unreacted components, distill to obtain hydrophobic agents, and the bottom material of the reactor can be recycled as a catalyst. Hydrophobic silica can be obtained by heating and stirring a mixture of silica and hydrophobic agent under the protection of nitrogen or inert gas. This method reduces the preparation cost and improves the production efficiency.

4. The prospects are broad, with challenges and opportunities coexisting
Although hydrophobic silica has shown great potential, it still faces challenges. On the one hand, the preparation cost is relatively high and the production process needs to be further matured. On the other hand, its long-term stability and environmental friendliness also need to be continuously improved. However, with the continuous deepening of scientific research, hydrophobic silica is expected to be applied in more fields, injecting new impetus into the development of various industries. It is believed that with the efforts of scientists, hydrophobic silica will shine brightly in the future, bringing more convenience and surprises to our lives.