Effects of Calcination Time and Sulfonation on Silica Particles Synthesised Using the Stober and Sol–Gel Methods for Fuel Cell Applications

SiO2 is a versatile inorganic substance with a wide spectrum of applications in areas such as fuel cells. In this study, pristine (p-SiO2) and sulfonated silica (s-SiO2) particles were synthesised using the sol–gel and Stober methods. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of calcination time and surface changes on the morphology, and hence functionality, of silica particles synthesised as potential fuel cell membrane additives. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as a silica precursor dissolved in water, with sulfuric acid serving as the sulfonation agent. Parametric data on particle morphology, such as particle size, porosity, total surface area, and agglomeration, were measured and evaluated using BET, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amorphous nature of silica particles was confirmed by XRD analysis. The BET outcome data acquired for the synthesised silica particles were a surface area ranging from 271 to 487 m2/g, a pore diameter of 12.10–21.02 nm, and a total pore volume of 0.76–1.58 cm3/g. These data give crucial characteristics for designing appropriate silica nanofillers for hybrid fuel cell membranes. As a result, the data gathered can be used to make future decisions about silica synthesis methods for various specific applications, such as fuel cell applications.