f.s Shariatmadar - Chemical engineering Research Group, Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Ghotb-e-Ravandi Blv, Kashan, Iran
m Mohsen-nia - Chemical engineering Research Group, Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Ghotb-e-Ravandi Blv, Kashan, Iran

In this work, Sol-gel synthesis of nanoamorphous silica (SiO2) is investigated. SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as the precursor and ethanol as the solvent under alkali medium and calcined at 550 0C. Their structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystallite size was calculated using the Scherrer equation. The X-ray diffraction had a wide peak and showed amorphous structure for the particles. Scanning electron microscopy images Illustrated that the product had the average particle size below 15 nm. The results of XRD and SEM images had a good Compatibility with the scherrer equation results.

sol-gel synthesis, silica nanoparticles, amorphous structure