Features of the Plasma-Electrolyte Process in the Vapor Phase over a Solution of Liquid Glass

The possibility of obtaining nanodispersed silicon dioxide powder (SiO2) in a pulsed discharge over an aqueous solution of sodium liquid glass. Two synthesis modes were compared: droplet, in which the discharge burns above aerosol droplets of the solution, and vapor-phase, where the discharge is formed above the vapor–gas phase of the heated solution. The morphology of the products was assessed using scanning electron microscopy. It has been shown that in the vapor phase regime, predominantly spherical particles of about 20–100 nm in size are formed. In the droplet mode, hollow spherical particles of about 1–5 µm in size, as well as fragmented microparticles of 1–2 µm, predominate. The transition to the vapor-phase mode is achieved by increasing the energy input of the pulses and/or preheating the solution.