Understanding the role of solvent properties on reaction kinetics for synthesis of silica nanoparticles

•Kinetics of hydrolysis and condensation of TEOS in different alcohols is studied.•The reactions are fastest in decanol:ethanol and slowest in pure ethanol.•The hydrolysis and condensation rates increase with decreasing polarity of the solvent.•Particle size could be varied from 400 nm to 1700 nm by changing solvent.•Mixture of ethanol and butanol gives monodispersed particles.