Also: silicon dioxide, rice husk ash, silica aerogel, biogenic silica
Silica (silicon dioxide) is the stuff of sand and glass. It can be harvested from rice husk ash, foamed into ultralight aerogels and made into nanoparticles that carry drugs. Many organisms, from diatoms to sponges, build skeletons of it.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Synthesis, biocompatibility and drug delivery of mesoporous silica nanoparticles.
As reported in: Tang, Li, Chen (2012). Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Biocompatibility and Drug Delivery. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.201104763
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Revised global estimates of production and dissolution of biogenic silica in the ocean.
As reported in: Nelson, Tréguer, Brzezinski et al. (1995). Production and dissolution of biogenic silica in the ocean: Revised global estimates, comparison with regional data and relationship to biogenic sedimentation. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. doi:10.1029/95gb01070
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Synthesis, properties and characterisation of silica aerogel.
As reported in: Soleimani Dorcheh, Abbasi (2008). Silica aerogel; synthesis, properties and characterization. Journal of Materials Processing Technology. doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2007.10.060
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A review of sol-gel silica nanoparticles, their surface modification and use in silica-polymer nanocomposites.
As reported in: Rahman, Padavettan (2012). Synthesis of Silica Nanoparticles by Sol‐Gel: Size‐Dependent Properties, Surface Modification, and Applications in Silica‐Polymer Nanocomposites—A Review. Journal of Nanomaterials. doi:10.1155/2012/132424
Rice husk ash as an alternative source for producing active silica.
Built / tested: silica powder
As reported in: Della, Kühn, Hotza (2002). Rice husk ash as an alternate source for active silica production. Materials Letters. doi:10.1016/s0167-577x(02)00879-0
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