Study on the surface modification of Sb2O3 nanoparticles by using mechanochemical method

ABSTRACTUsing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000), and their composites as surfactants, the surface of Sb2O3 nanoparticles was modified by mechanochemical method based on high-energy ball milling. The microstructures, dispersibility, and hydrophobicity of the resulting Sb2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and surface contact angle measurement. The results showed that there was no obvious change in the crystal structure of Sb2O3 nanoparticles after surface modification. The resulting Sb2O3 nanoparticles were successfully coated by the experimental surfactants, which led the particles to have better dispersibility than that of unmodified Sb2O3 nanoparticles. Besides, the Sb2O3 nanoparticles modified by compound surfactants exhibited the highest hydrophobicity with surface contact angle of 126.7°.