Synthesis of polyethylenimine-silica janus nanoparticles
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the disclosure provide an asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle and a method for synthesizing the same. The asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle includes a base nanoparticle. The base nanoparticle can include silicon dioxide. The base nanoparticle can have a lipophilic surface. A portion of the surface can be functionalized with a functionalizing material forming a hydrophilic portion. The functionalizing material can include polyethylenimine. A remaining portion of the surface is not functionalized forming a lipophilic portion. The asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle is amphiphilic.
1. A method for synthesizing an asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle, the method comprising the steps of:
surface-treating a base nanoparticle with an alcohol such that the base nanoparticle has hydroxyl groups distributed throughout an exterior of the base nanoparticle;
dispersing the base nanoparticle in an aqueous solvent to form an aqueous dispersion;
introducing a waxy material to the aqueous dispersion to form an emulsion, where the emulsion is maintained at a temperature greater than a melting point of the waxy material, where the emulsion includes liquid colloidosomes comprising the waxy material as an interior component and the base nanoparticle as an exterior component;
cooling the emulsion to a temperature less than the melting point of the waxy material such that solidified colloidosomes are formed;
chemically modifying an exposed surface of the base nanoparticle using a functionalizing material comprising polyethylenimine; and
removing the waxy material to release the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle.
2. The method of claim 1 , where the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle is amphiphilic.
3. The method of claim 2 , where the base nanoparticle has a lipophilic surface prior to surface-treating.
4. The method of claim 2 , where the functionalizing material is hydrophilic.
5. The method of claim 1 , where the base nanoparticle comprises silicon dioxide.
6. The method of claim 1 , where the base nanoparticle has a size ranging between 80 nm and 200 nm.
7. The method of claim 1 , where a fluorophore is labeled to the polyethylenimine.
8. The method of claim 7 , where the fluorophore is fluorescinisothiocyanate.
9. The method of claim 1 , where the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, combinations of the same, and aqueous solutions of the same.
10. The method of claim 1 , where the waxy material comprises paraffin wax.
11. The method of claim 1 , where the surface-treating step is conducted at a temperature ranging between 60 deg. C. and 70 deg. C. for a duration ranging between one hour and two hours.
12. The method of claim 1 , where the introducing step is conducted at a temperature ranging between 60 deg. C. and 100 deg. C.
13. The method of claim 1 , where the removing step includes dissolving the waxy material with an organic solvent.
14. The method of claim 13 , where the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of: chloroform, toluene, diethyl ether, and combinations of the same.
15. A method for hydrocarbon recovery using an asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle, the method comprising the step of:
introducing the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle to a subterranean formation, wherein the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle is formed by the steps of:
surface-treating a base nanoparticle with an alcohol such that the base nanoparticle has hydroxyl groups distributed throughout an exterior of the base nanoparticle;
dispersing the base nanoparticle in an aqueous solvent to form an aqueous dispersion;
introducing a waxy material to the aqueous dispersion to form an emulsion, where the emulsion is maintained at a temperature greater than a melting point of the waxy material, where the emulsion includes liquid colloidosomes comprising the waxy material as an interior component and the base nanoparticle as an exterior component;
cooling the emulsion to a temperature less than the melting point of the waxy material such that solidified colloidosomes are formed;
chemically modifying an exposed surface of the base nanoparticle using a functionalizing material comprising polyethylenimine; and
removing the waxy material to release the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle;
where the subterranean formation includes crude oil and water forming an interface; and
where the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle reduces interfacial tension between the crude oil and the water at the interface.
16. The method of claim 15 , where the asymmetrically functionalized nanoparticle is amphiphilic.
17. The method of claim 16 , where the base nanoparticle has a lipophilic surface prior to surface-treating.
18. The method of claim 16 , where the functionalizing material is hydrophilic.
19. The method of claim 15 , where the base nanoparticle comprises silicon dioxide.
20. The method of claim 15 , where the base nanoparticle has a size ranging between 80 nm and 200 nm.
21. The method of claim 15 , where a fluorophore is labeled to the polyethylenimine.
22. The method of claim 21 , where the fluorophore is fluorescinisothiocyanate.