# Synthesis and Characterization of a New Surface-Modified Nanoparticle Using Fluoroalkanoic Acids as a Wettability Alteration Agent

Authors: Kenny Ganie; Dzeti Farhah Mohshim; Ismail Mohd Saaid; Wan Rosli Wan Sulaiman; Ahmad Kamal Idris
Journal: Journal of Nanomaterials
 (2020)

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## Abstract

Previously, condensate banking removal in gas reservoir is mitigated using chemical treatments to alter the wettability of the near-wellbore region. However, this technique performed unsatisfactorily as it reduces the surface free energy and affects the gas relative permeability negatively. Hence, alternative surface-modified nanoparticles using fluorine-based chemicals were developed as wettability alteration agents since fluorine exhibits a high degree of liquid repellency and nanoparticles introduce high surface roughness. The newly synthesized surface-modified nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, DLS, FESEM, and TGA. FTIR results highlight the characteristic absorption of Si-O-C group at peak 1105 and 1106 cm-1 in both fluoroalkanoic acids, demonstrating that fluorochemical molecules have been successfully coated onto silica nanoparticles. Nanoparticle sizes measured by DLS reported higher value than FESEM due to agglomeration, and the DLS measurement was done in hydrodynamic conditions. TGA analysis reveals decomposition at temperature between 100 and 150°C, indicating that these surface-modified nanoparticles can be utilized in an environment below 100°C. Higher decomposition was perceived on PFNA-modified nanoparticles as a thicker coating of PFNA is shrouding the silica nanoparticles compared to PFOA. Implications of the results will path the way for future research direction in using fluorine-based surface-modified nanoparticles as wettability alteration agents.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Previous research on wettability alteration only deals with chemical treatment. Fluorochemical or fluorosurfactant is the exact name of the chemical that became the interest of many researchers [1–6] due to its electronegativity and reduction of surface free energy as the fluorine atoms network formed on the surface [7]. Wettability alteration is achieved by adsorption of a surface tension-reducing agent (fluorochemicals) that reduces the surface free energy and causes the repellency of another liquid.However, chemical treatment is not sufficient to alter the wettability solely. Almost all chemical treatment successfully increases the liquid relative permeability and decreases the irreducible liquid saturation. Nevertheless, this treatment also reduces the gas relative permeability, which is not favourable. Reduction of gas relative permeability will impede the gas well deliverability [3].Introducing nanoparticles in chemical treatment is not only helping wettability alteration by reducing the surface free energy alone, but also adding another wettability alteration parameter: surface roughness. Increasing surface roughness will increase the wettability alteration ability [8].Research using nanoparticles as a wettability alteration agent in gas condensate reservoirs only started in 2013 by Mousavi et al. [9]. Several researchers [10] using different types of fluorochemicals and nanoparticles, for example, Mousavi et al. [9] and Sharifzadeh et al. [11], utilized fluoroalkylsilane coated on nanosilica through sol-gel preparation. Esmaeilzadeh et al. [12], however, adopted different types of nanoparticles such as titanium oxide, silica, and carbon nanotube coated with fluoropolymer, while Sayed et al. [13] employed silica nanoparticles with fluorinated nonionic polymeric surfactant. Other studies have been applying commercial or proprietary chemicals, such as Franco-Aguirre et al. [14] with anionic commercial surfactant Silnyl® FSJ (SY -46% of fluoroaliphatic/hydrocarbon), Jin et al. [15] with FG-40™ fluorosurfactant, and Aminnaji et al. [16] with SurfacePore M™ nanofluid in fluoropolymer. To this day, there has been no research on using fluoroalkanoic acid as the coating agent for silica nanoparticles.The motivation to use fluoroalkanoic acid as the coating agent comes fromTeflon®. Fluoroalkanoic acid has been used to manufacture nonstick Teflon®-coated cookware. The nonstick surface makes the cookware convenient to use and easy to clean. It also requires little oil or butter for cooking, making it a healthy way to cook and fry food.The emphasis of this study is on the newly developed fluorinated silica nanoparticles by using fluoroalkanoic acids as the coating agent. This newly developed fluorinated silica nanoparticles will act as a wettability alteration agent. Therefore, the objective of this study is to synthesize and characterize the new surface-modified nanoparticles using fluoroalkanoic acids as wettability alteration agents.


## 2. Materials and Methods

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (M) Sdn. Bhd. Details of these chemicals are presented in Table1. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) or silica nanoparticles with hydroxyl functional group (-OH) were supplied by US Research Nanomaterials Inc. The size of nanoparticles is between 15 and 20 nm with S-type structure (spherical particles). Additionally, ethanol (CAS number: 64-17-5, 95%) was purchased from HmbG Chemicals.Table 1
Details of fluoroalkanoic acids used in surface functionalization method.
ChemicalCAS numberLinear formulaMolecular weightMelting point (°C)Boiling point (°C)Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)335-67-1CF3(CF2)6COOH414.0755189Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)375-95-1CF3(CF2)7COOH464.0859218The synthesis method was conducted using the procedure used in our previous study [17]. Fluorinated nanoparticles were prepared using postsynthesis functionalization method, by dispersing 0.02 g of SiO2 nanoparticles in 10 mL ethanol, followed by adding 10 mL of a mixture containing PFOA (0.02 g) and ethanol (10 mL) to the solution at room temperature. Then, the solution was sonicated for 30 minutes with a temperature at 70°C, above the melting point of PFOA and PFNA. This temperature is selected so that the fluorochemicals (PFOA and PFNA) could coat the nanoparticles easily above its melting point. The experiments above were then repeated using a different type of fluorochemicals, i.e., PFNA. Before characterization, the nanofluid—which is then coated nanoparticles suspended in ethanol—was then sent to the oven at a temperature above ethanol boiling point in order to remove any moisture residues with the nanoparticles. The end product of surface-modified nanoparticles after being dried is in a solid form (powder).Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the chemical bonds of the neutral-wetting alteration agents in this study. FTIR spectrum of the sample was obtained using a Perkin Elmer FTIR Machine, Model Spectrum One to detect the presence of fluorochemicals on the nanoparticle surface. The sample was then mixed with potassium bromide (KBr) pelletsm, and the FTIR device was used in transmission mode in the IR spectra range of 4000–400 cm-1.The size distribution of the nanoparticles in this study was measured using Zetasizer Nano ZSP by Malvern Panalytical. Particle and molecule size is calculated using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). DLS tests the diffusion of particles under the Brownian motion and uses the Stokes-Einstein relationship to translate this to scale and size distribution. The Non-Invasive Back Scatter (NIBS) system is implemented to provide the maximum sensitivity at the same time as the largest size and concentration range.Surface imaging was done using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). FESEM is an analytical technique used in material science to determine the morphological and topographical data of molecular surface structures. FESEM characterization was done using the VPFESEM model Supra55 VP by Zeiss.Thermal stability analysis or thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out using Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer (STA) 6000 by Perkin Elmer. This test method establishes a procedure for determining the material thermal’s stability and its fraction of the volatile component by monitoring the weight change that occurs as a sample is heated at a constant rate. In this study, the nanoparticles were fitted into the TGA sample pan with an initial weight of nominally between 5 and 20 mg. The thermal reaction occurred under a nitrogen atmosphere at a rate of 10°C/min from ambient temperature until 900°C. The decomposition rate will reflect the amount of coating on the nanoparticles and its stability temperatures.


## 3. Results and Discussion

The solution of fluorinated silica nanoparticles of 15–20 nm size was prepared in the laboratory. Figures1 and 2 show the schematic model of the formation of functionalized silica nanoparticles in ethanol solution, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), respectively. From the observation, the dehydration condensation can occur between the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the PFOA and PFNA molecules and the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the nanosilica at temperature 70°C. Then, the nonpolar end of the C-F bond on the molecule exposes out after the reaction. A substantial number of molecules can react with a single nanoparticle because there are so many hydroxyl groups on the nanoparticles’ surface, increasing the adsorption significantly [18]. Therefore, neutral-wetting nanoparticles can be achieved using fluorochemical coating.Figure 1
Schematic model of the silica nanoparticle formation with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).Figure 2
Schematic model of the silica nanoparticle formation with perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).Figures3 and 4 show the FTIR spectrum of unmodified nanosilica, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), PFOA-modified nanoparticles, and PFNA-modified nanoparticles. The FTIR spectra of the unmodified nanosilica show absorption bands arising from asymmetric stretching vibration of Si-O-Si at 1105 cm-1 and symmetric vibration of Si-O-Si bonds at 800 cm-1. Infrared analysis of the nanosilica shows a peak around 970 cm-1 which is attributed to Si-OH bonds, present on the unfunctionalized silica nanoparticles [19, 20]. The peak at 471 cm-1 is associated with Si-O-Si bonds for the rocking vibration [20–22]. Hydroxyl functional group shows an intense characteristic absorption band between 3300 cm-1 and 3500 cm-1 assigned to O-H stretching. Also, this band can be cross-checked through the 1633 cm-1 band due to scissor bending vibration of the O-H bond [23]. Table 2 shows the summary of IR spectra for the unmodified nanosilica.Figure 3
FTIR spectra of (a) unmodified nanosilica, (b) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and (c) PFOA-modified nanosilica.Figure 4
FTIR spectra of (a) unmodified nanosilica, (b) perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and (c) PFNA-modified nanosilica.Table 2
FTIR spectra of the unmodified nanosilica.
Functional groupPeak position (cm-1)Type of vibration-OH3500–3300Broad and strong intensity absorption of -OH stretching-OH1633Scissor bending vibration of O-H bondSi-O-Si1105Si-O-Si asymmetric stretching vibrationSi-OH970Si-OH asymmetric vibrationSi-O-Si800Si-O-Si symmetric vibrationSi-O-Si471Si-O-Si bending vibrationPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) are from perfluorinated carboxylic acid family. Hence, based on the FTIR, its functional group contains C=O stretching bands at 1712 cm-1 and 1715 cm-1; C-O stretching bands at 1297 cm-1 and 1338 cm-1; O-H stretching bands at 3559 cm-1 and 3468 cm-1; and O-H bending vibration at 1466 cm-1 and 1467 cm-1, for PFOA and PFNA, respectively. C-F stretching vibration is absorbed at 1204 cm-1 and 1148 cm-1 for PFOA and 1203 cm-1 and 1149 cm-1 for PFNA. Table 3 shows the summary of IR spectra for PFOA and PFNA.Table 3
FTIR spectra of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).
Functional groupPeak position for PFOA (cm-1)Peak position for PFNA (cm-1)Type of vibrationO-H35593468O-H stretching vibrationC=O17121715C=O stretching vibrationO-H14661467O-H bending vibrationC-O12971338C-O stretching vibrationC-F1204, 11481203, 1149C-F stretching vibrationIn the surface-modified nanoparticles, the absorption peak of -OH group at 3434 cm-1 is broad with weak intensity, indicating that the monomers have reacted slowly. The peaks at 1205 cm-1 and 1148 cm-1 in PFOA-modified nanoparticles and 1303 cm-1 and 1149 cm-1 in PFNA-modified nanoparticles are the characteristic stretching peaks of the C-F bonds. The peaks at 1678 cm-1 and 1768 cm-1 in PFOA-modified nanoparticles and PFNA-modified nanoparticles, respectively, are corresponding to the characteristic of absorption C=O group. Figures 3(c) and 4(c) show that the characteristic absorption by the Si-O-C group appears at peaks 1105 cm-1 and 1106 cm-1, revealing that fluorochemical molecules have been successfully coated onto nanosilica particles by the dehydration condensation [18]. The stretching vibration absorption of Si-O-Si at 800 cm-1 in unmodified nanosilica is now shifted to 793 cm-1 in PFOA-modified nanoparticles and 792 cm-1 in PFNA-modified nanoparticles, while bending vibration of Si-O-Si are remained at 471 cm-1 and 472 cm-1, respectively. Table 4 shows the summary of IR spectra for PFOA-modified nanoparticles and PFNA-modified nanoparticles.Table 4
FTIR spectra of PFOA-modified nanoparticles and PFNA-modified nanoparticles.
Functional groupPeak position for PFOA-modified nanoparticles (cm-1)Peak position for PFNA-modified nanoparticles (cm-1)Type of vibrationC=O16781768C=O stretching vibrationC-F1205, 11481303, 1149C-F stretching vibrationSi-O-C11061106Si-O-C stretching vibrationSi-O-Si793792Si-O-Si symmetric vibrationSi-O-Si472471Si-O-Si bending vibrationCharacterization of the functionalized particles by DLS (Table5) showed the particles to be approximately 100–400 nm in size and that the uniformity was maintained during the functionalization of the silica nanoparticles. Meanwhile, measurement of nanoparticles using FESEM (Figure 5) showed a lower value, and the size is between 20 and 40 nm. Whilst FESEM measured the primary particle sizes of the nanoparticles, DLS measurements are often done in order to determine the true state of nanoparticles in porous media, especially when it was suspended in nanofluids. If the particles agglomerate, the values obtained from DLS will be larger than FESEM, as DLS measured the average hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles that was dispersed in a solvent.Table 5
DLS of the unmodified and surface-modified silica nanoparticles.
SampleSize range (nm)Unmodified nanosilica10–15PFOA-modified nanosilica170–250PFNA-modified nanosilica210–450Figure 5
FESEM images of the (a) unmodified nanosilica, (b) PFOA-modified nanosilica, and (c) PFNA-modified nanosilica.
(a)(b)(c)The surface-modified nanoparticles were further characterized using the TGA method (Table6). Although nanosilica were oven-dried under vacuum, all samples showed an initial mass loss between 27 and 85°C, which is assigned to the desorption of physisorbed moisture and residual ethanol from functionalization of nanoparticles. With the surface-modified nanoparticles containing only a SiO2 network, they can be dried at elevated temperatures for an extended length of time, ensuring removal of any absorbed moisture and residual ethanol, without compromising any additional organic functionality. No significant weight reduction is observed up until temperature 900°C in unmodified nanosilica. Surface-modified silica nanoparticles, however, showed a noticeable weight reduction between the temperatures 100 and 150°C. PFOA-modified nanoparticles and PFNA-modified nanoparticles both seen 55% and 65% of decomposition, respectively. Higher decomposition was perceived on PFNA-modified nanoparticles as a thicker coating of PFNA is shrouding the silica nanoparticles compare to PFOA. Meanwhile, no decomposition is observed in unmodified silica nanoparticles, as no coating was shrouded on the unmodified silica nanoparticles.Table 6
TGA analyses of the unmodified and surface-modified nanosilica.
SampleTemperature of 5% mass loss (°C)Residual at 100°C (%)Residual at 150°C (%)Residual at 900°C (%)Unmodified nanosilica60098.097.895.0PFOA-modified nanosilica6572.446.044.6PFNA-modified nanosilica7785.742.634.7These results are in agreement with those obtained by Mousavi et al. [9], Brassard et al. [19], and Jin et al. [18]. One interesting finding is that all the coating agents used in their study replace the -OH bond on the nanosilica. For example, Brassard et al. [19] and Mousavi et al. [9] were using fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) as the coating agent. Every H atom from each -OH bond around the silica nanoparticles is replaced by a Si atom of the FAS molecule as presented in Figure 6. The new vibrational bonds of Si-O-C, C-H, and C-F are also shown in the same figure.Figure 6
The functionalization of silica nanoparticles by FAS17 molecules is shown as well as the vibrational bonds and the corresponding wavenumbers (Brassard et al., 2011).These similarities are also shared by Jin et al. [18], despite using a different type of coating agent. Although FG40 fluorosurfactant is a proprietary product, the FG40 molecule contains two carboxyl functional groups, as shown in Figure 7. The dehydration and condensation occurred between the -OH group of FG40 and the -OH group of the nanosilica at 80°C. A substantial number of FG40 molecules can react with a single nanoparticle because there are so many OH groups on the surface of the nanoparticles.Figure 7
Sketch of nanosilica modification using FG40 fluorosurfactant (Jin et al., 2016).The combination of these findings provides some support for the conceptual premise that PFOA and PFNA can be used successfully as the coating agent in fluorinated-modified nanoparticles. An implication of this is the possibility that PFOA-modified nanoparticles and PFNA-modified nanoparticles are acting as wettability alteration agents in removing condensate banking. It is expected that the changes in the chain in nanosilica could improve gas productivity in the gas reservoir.


## 4. Conclusions

In conclusion, fluorinated-modified nanoparticles can be developed using fluoroalkanoic acids such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) as the coating agents. Fluorochemical molecule is successfully coated onto silica nanoparticles, and this is shown in FTIR results. Nanoparticle sizes measured by DLS and FESEM indicate agglomeration of nanoparticles in hydrodynamic environment. TGA analysis showed that these surface-modified nanoparticles can be utilized in an environment below 100°C. The evidence from this study suggests that it is possible to synthesize a new surface-modified nanoparticle using fluoroalkanoic acids as a wettability alteration agent, the same coating agent used in nonstickTeflon®-coated cookware. Hence, the implications of these results will path the way for future research direction in utilizing surface-modified nanoparticles using fluoroalkanoic acids as a wettability alteration agent.



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