A Novel Rapid One-Step Synthesis of Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles at Room Temperature Using Poly(dimethylsiloxane)

We report for the first time a novel rapid synthesis method for manganese oxide (MO) nanoparticles by a reaction between acidic permanganate and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). In contrast to the existing traditional methods for synthesis of MO nanoparticles, the new method has the advantage of shorter reaction time (similar to 2 h) at room temperature (similar to 25 degrees C). The produced MO nanoparticles are characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM, HRTEM). The material produced is semicrystalline silicon-doped MnO2 with homogeneous size and morphology with an average particle size around 300 nm. Other products of the reactions include Cl-2, silicon dioxide sheets on PDMS, and CO2. A mechanism for this reaction is proposed. The prepared MO was successfully used as a catalyst for the rapid and highly efficient degradation of a water pollutant-Rhodamine B (RhB).