Table 1 Physico-chemical characterization of nanoparticles

Shape

TEM: spherical

Concentration

2.0% (wt/wt); 1.5x10¹⁴ NPs mL^-1

Crystal structure

XRD: amorphous

Size/size distribution

DLS: 58.2±2.6 nm;

DLS: 66.0±3.3 nm;

DLS: 61.3±3.5 nm;

DLS: 67.6±2.6 nm;

PDI[a] = 0.055

PDI = 0.082

PDI = 0.067

PDI = 0.079

TEM: d₅₀ = 50 nm

TEM: d₅₀ = 54 nm

TEM: d₅₀ = 56 nm

TEM: d₅₀ = 53 nm

d₉₀ = 55 nm

d₉₀ = 61 nm

d₉₀ = 63 nm

d₉₀ = 57 nm

Surface chemistry

XPS: Atom%:

XPS: Atom%:

XPS: Atom%:

XPS: Atom%:

O 62.8, Si 25.6,

O 57.8, Si 24.3,

O 61.8, Si 25.6,

O 44.5, Si 33.5,

C 11.6

C 16.1, N 1.8

C 12.6, S < 1

C 18.0, N 3.9

SIMS: Si_xO_y,C₆H₁₅O₃Si

SIMS: Si_xO_y,F, (H₂N(CH₂)₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃)

SIMS: Si_xO_y, Cl, ((CH₃O)₃Si(CH₂)₃SH)

SIMS: Si_xO_y, F,C₆H₉NO

Surface charge (Z-potential)

- 41.71 mV±0.82

+ 42.24 mV±1.49

- 47.73 mV±0.91

- 40.87 mV±1.31

IEP[b]: ~ pH 3.1

IEP: ~ pH 6.4

IEP: ~ pH 1.3

IEP: ~ pH 4.6