Other Reactions
TEOS has the remarkable property of easily converting into silicon dioxide. This reaction occurs upon the addition of water:
- Si(OC2H5)4 + 2 H2O → SiO2 + 4 C2H5OH
This hydrolysis reaction is an example of a sol-gel process. The side product is ethanol. The reaction proceeds via a series of condensation reactions that convert the TEOS molecule into a mineral-like solid via the formation of Si-O-Si linkages. Rates of this conversion are sensitive to the presence of acids and bases, both of which serve as catalysts. The Stöber process allows the formation of monodisperse silica particles.
At elevated temperatures (>600 °C), TEOS converts to silicon dioxide:
- Si(OC2H5)4 → SiO2 + 2 (C2H5)2O
The volatile coproduct is diethyl ether.
Read more about this topic: Tetraethyl Orthosilicate
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