Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Flower-Wrinkle Silica Nanoparticles From Rice Husk

In this study, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) with a flower-like wrinkled morphology were synthesized via a green method using rice husk (RH) as a sustainable silica precursor. The synthesis was performed without hazardous chemicals, highlighting the environmental compatibility and cost-effectiveness of the process. The structural and physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–vis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. FTIR confirmed the presence of Si─O─Si and Si─OH groups, while XRD revealed that the synthesized particles exhibit a crystalline quartz structure rather than the amorphous form commonly obtained from RH. SEM images showed petal-shaped particles with hierarchical morphology. Thermal analysis indicated high stability up to 800°C. These findings suggest that the developed green synthesis method can yield structurally defined SiNPs suitable for further application in catalysis, adsorption, and nanomaterials development.