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Interfacial Engineering of Boron Nanoparticles via Dual-Silane Grafting for Storage Stability and Enhanced Reactivity
Jiayi Luo1, Zhenguo Pang2, Chujie Lei2
1School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Abstract:
Dispersing high-energy inorganic nanoparticles within nonpolar hydrocarbon media, such as aviation kerosene, poses a fundamental colloid science challenge because of the severe surface-energy mismatch between the particles and the fuel. Herein, we report a dual-silane interfacial engineering strategy to tailor the surface chemistry of boron nanoparticles and thereby improve both storage stability and combustion reactivity. A mixed alkyl/fluoroalkyl organosilane interfacial layer, denoted B@Si-C16H33@Si-C10H4F17, was constructed using hexadecyl- and perfluorodecyl-silane modifiers. FTIR and XPS analyses confirmed successful surface functionalization and the introduction of fluorocarbon/siloxane surface species. The modification induced a pronounced wettability transition from a hydrophilic state (contact angle of 8.5°) to a highly hydrophobic state (156°), thereby improving compatibility with aviation kerosene. In a n-decane-based gel fuel system, the functionalized particles exhibited excellent storage and phase-transition stability, resisting sedimentation under both thermal stress (90 °C) and shear-induced liquefaction/re-gelation. The improved stability is attributed to the synergistic effects of hydrocarbon compatibility, steric hindrance, and fluorine-enabled interparticle repulsion. In addition, the fluoroalkyl-containing interface played an active role in combustion: single-droplet combustion experiments showed a shortened ignition delay, faster droplet regression, and stronger microexplosion behavior. Overall, this study provides an effective surface-processing route for preparing boron nanoparticles with simultaneously improved colloidal robustness and combustion performance in hydrocarbon gel fuels.
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