Methods including functionalizing nanoparticles and forming suspensions
A composition of matter includes a liquid and nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. The nanoparticles each include silica, alumina, and an organosilicon functional group having a molecular weight of at least 200. A method includes functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group and dispersing the nanoparticles in a liquid to form a suspension. The functional group has a molecular weight of at least 200. The nanoparticles each include silica and alumina at a surface thereof.
1. A method, comprising:
functionalizing nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group, the nanoparticles each comprising silica and alumina, the organosilicon functional group formed from (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO); and
forming a suspension of the nanoparticles in a liquid.
2. A method, comprising:
functionalizing nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group, the functionalizing comprising functionalizing the nanoparticles with (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), the nanoparticles each comprising silica and alumina; and
forming a suspension of the nanoparticles in a liquid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a suspension of the nanoparticles in a liquid comprises dispersing the nanoparticles in an aqueous medium.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying an exposed surface of silica nanoparticles to form the nanoparticles comprising silica and aluminum.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein modifying an exposed surface of silica nanoparticles comprises replacing a silanol group with Al—OH.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises reacting the nanoparticles with the organosilicon functional group in the presence of ethanol and water.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises reacting the nanoparticles with the organosilicon functional group at a temperature of at least 50° C.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises bonding the organosilicon functional group with silicon atoms of the nanoparticles.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising injecting the suspension into a subterranean well.
10. A method, comprising:
functionalizing nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group, the nanoparticles each comprising silica and alumina;
forming a suspension of the nanoparticles in a liquid; and
maintaining the suspension at a temperature of at least 30° C. for a time period of at least 30 days while maintaining at least 90% of the nanoparticles in the suspension.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising forming the organosilicon functional group from (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO).
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein functionalizing nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises functionalizing the nanoparticles with (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO).
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein forming a suspension of the nanoparticles in a liquid comprises dispersing the nanoparticles in an aqueous medium.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising modifying an exposed surface of silica nanoparticles to form the nanoparticles comprising silica and aluminum.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein modifying an exposed surface of silica nanoparticles comprises replacing a silanol group with Al—OH.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises reacting the nanoparticles with the organosilicon functional group in the presence of ethanol and water.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises reacting the nanoparticles with the organosilicon functional group at a temperature of at least 50° C.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group comprises bonding the organosilicon functional group with silicon atoms of the nanoparticles.
19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising injecting the suspension into a subterranean well.