Mechanism of formation of silica spherical particles according to dynamic light scattering data

We studied the kinetics of nucleation and growth of monodisperse spherical silica particles by the dynamic light scattering method in real time. We obtained experimental data on the dynamics of particle size and scattering intensity over the entire time interval of their formation and growth, which testified to the hierarchical mechanism of the formation of spherical silica particles. We found a discrepancy between the growth rate of particle size and increasing intensity of light scattering in time, which, alongside with the vibration character of change of the latter, indicates the presence of at least two sizes of silica particles during their growth and testifies to a complex, multistage mechanism of formation of finite spheres.