Experimental Investigation of Hydrophobically Modified α-ZrP Nanosheets for Enhancing Oil Recovery in Low-Permeability Sandstone Cores.

Highly crystalline α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanoparticles were synthesized and exfoliated into nanosheets, and then the hydrophilic nanosheets were modified into hydrophobic nanosheets with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to confirm the morphology and chemical structure of the nanosheets. Contact angle measurement was conducted to explore the wettability alteration of the hydrophobically modified α-ZrP nanosheets, and the result showed that the wettability of the core was changed into hydrophobicity.