Aerosol assisted synthesis of silica/phenolic resin composite mesoporous hollow spheres

Hollow spheres of phenolic resin/silica composite are synthesized by macroscopic phase separation of a sorbitan monooleate surfactant Span 80 during aerosol-assisted spraying. The cavity can be evolved from multiple compartments to single hollow cavity with the increase of Span 80 content. The composite shell becomes mesoporous due to the release of small molecules after thermal treatment above 350 °C. After further thermal treatment at a higher temperature for example 900 °C in nitrogen or 1,450 °C in argon, the carbon/silica composite hollow spheres or crystalline silicon carbide hollow spheres are derived, respectively. Compared to the pure phenolic resin-based carbon spheres, thermal stability of the carbon-based composite spheres in air is essentially improved by the introduction of inorganic component silica. The carbon-based composite hollow spheres combine both performances of easy mass transportation through macropores and high specific surface area of mesopores, which will be promising to support catalysts for fuel cells. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

可用于色谱固定相的介孔氧化硅球材料的合成

采用非离子型嵌段高分子表面活性剂EO₂₀PO₃₀EO₂₀ (P65)为结构导向剂, 正硅酸乙酯为硅源, 在酸性介质中, 静置法制备了微米级介孔氧化硅球. 通过改变合成温度、反应时间或者无机盐KCl的加入量, 可以调节介孔氧化硅球的直径(9.0～17.6 μm); 加入1,3,5-三甲苯(TMB)或者调节水热温度, 可以调节介孔氧化硅球的孔径(2.3～4.8 nm). 采用X射线衍射(XRD)、N₂吸附-脱附、扫描电镜(SEM)、激光散射粒度分布和对溶菌酶的吸附等方法, 对介孔氧化硅球的结构、孔性质、形貌、吸附性质等进行了表征. 实验发现, 孔径较小的介孔氧化硅球(≤4.3 nm)对溶菌酶的吸附不明显(≤42 mg/g), 而孔径(4.8 nm)大于溶菌酶直径的材料对溶菌酶有较大的吸附量(192 mg/g), 说明孔径均匀可调的介孔氧化硅球材料可以很好地用作体积排阻色谱柱的固定相.     

Preparation of hollow silica microspheres with controlled shell thickness in supercritical fluids

This article presents a novel route to prepare hollow silica microspheres with well-defined wall thickness by using cross-linked polystyrene (PS) microspheres as templates with the assistance of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂). In this approach, the cross-linked PS templates can be firstly prepared via emulsifier-free polymerization method by using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate or divinylbenzene as cross-linkers. Then, the silica shell from the sol–gel process of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) which was penetrated into the PS template with the assistance of SC-CO₂ was obtained. Finally, the hollow silica spheres were generated after calcinations at 600 °C for 4 h. The shell thickness of the hollow silica spheres could be finely tuned not only by adjusting the TEOS/PS ratio, which is the most frequently used method, but also by changing the pressure and aging time of the SC-CO₂ treatment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscope were used to characterize these hollow silica spheres.     

Preparation of hollow titania and strontium titanate spheres using sol–gel derived silica gel particles as templates

A facile approach, based on polyelectrolyte-mediated electrostatic adsorption of a water-soluble titanium complex on colloidal templates and hydrothermal treatment, is presented for the formation of hollow titania (TiO₂) and strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) spheres. Monodispersed silica gel particles were prepared by the sol?Cgel method and adopted as core templates. Deposition of a water-soluble titanium complex, titanium (IV) bis(ammoniumlactato)dihydroxide (TALH), on the silica gel particles was carried out via the layer-by-layer assembly technique. Hollow spheres were successfully formed from the core?Cshell particles. The silica gel particles used as core templates dissolved during hydrothermal treatment because of the particles?? undeveloped siloxane network. In addition, the hydrothermal treatment induced crystallization of the hollow shells. Therefore, the hydrothermal treatment played two roles; removal of the silica templates and crystallization of the hollow shells. When deionized water was used, hollow TiO₂ spheres were obtained. Hollow SrTiO₃ spheres could also be formed when an aqueous solution of Sr(OH)₂ was used. The approach presented here could be exploited as a novel and sustainable approach for the fabrication of a range of different inorganic hollow spheres.     

One-pot synthesis of bimetallic Fe/Co incorporated silica hollow spheres with superior peroxidase-like activity

Mesoporous silica hollow spheres with a homogenous and high content distribution of Fe and Co were synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal process. The sub-nanometer bimetallic components inside the silica framework facilitate the stable fixation and the open accessibility to active sites. The co-doped Fe/Co in the spheres showed excellent peroxidase-like activity and much higher catalytic performance than their monometallic-supported spheres. The synergistic effect between Fe and Co promotes the continuous formation of functional radicals during the oxidation process and thus accelerates the reaction rate. When used for colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), the Fe/Co incorporated silica hollow spheres show the capability of detection of H₂O₂ in a wide range (10-250 µmol/L) and with the low detection limit of 0.012 ppm.     

A novel and facile preparation method of hollow silica spheres containing small SiO2 cores

This article presents a novel and facile preparation method of hollow silica spheres with loading small silica inside. In this approach, positively charged SiO₂/polystyrene core‐shell composite particles were synthesized first, when the silica shells from the sol‐gel process of tetraethoxysilane were then coated on the surfaces of composite particles via electrostatic interaction, the polystyrene was dissolved subsequently even synchronously in the same medium to form hollow silica spheres with small silica cores. TEM, SEM, and FTIR measurements were used to characterize these composite spheres. Based on this study, some inorganic or organic compounds could be loaded into these hollow silica spheres. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3431–3439, 2007     

A scanning electron microscopy study on hollow silica microspheres: defects and influences of the synthesis composition

Defects on hollow silica spheres synthesized in a tetraethylorthosilicate-octylamine-HCl-H₂O system were recorded by scanning microscope. Based on the results, influences of synthesis composition on the formation of these defects are discussed. It is evidenced that products prepared with different octylamine-to-tetraethylorthosilicate ratios may have surface depressions, cracks and non-hollow microspheres. However, by changing water and acid additions, these defects could be reduced or eliminated. Generally, samples synthesized with a large octylamine addition commonly exhibit surface depressions. A small octylamine or a large water addition benefits the formation of solid silica microspheres among the product. Acid, although is not indispensable for the formation of hollow spheres, helps to eliminate or reduce depressions on the hollow shells. It is explained that the added acid gives rise to a relative localized fast hydrolysis versus condensation, facilitating an easy mobility of hydrolyzed silica species, and consequently the shell surface is smoothened.     

Controlled Synthesis of Hollow PbS‐TiO2 Hybrid Structures through an Ion Adsorption–Heating Process and their Photocatalytic Activity

Hollow hybrid nanostructures have received significant attention because of their unique structural features. This study reports a facile ion adsorption–heating method to fabricate hollow PbS‐TiO₂ hybrid particles. In this method, the TiO₂ spheres used as a substrate material to grow PbS are aggregates of many small amorphous TiO₂ particles, and each small particle is covered with thioglycolic acid ligands through Ti⁴⁺–carboxyl coordination. When Pb²⁺ ions are added to a colloidal solution of these TiO₂ spheres, these ions are adsorbed by sulfhydryl (‐SH) groups to form metal thiolates, and the C−S bond is dissociated by heating to release S²⁻. The S²⁻ ions react with Pb²⁺ ions to form PbS without additive sulfur sources. Additionally, the amorphous TiO₂ spheres are transformed into the anatase phase during the heating process. As a result, the crystallization of TiO₂ spheres along with the formation of PbS is simultaneously carried out by heating. During the heating process, owing to the Kirkendall effect of S²⁻ diffusion and the Ostwald ripening effect of the crystallization of amorphous TiO₂ spheres, PbS‐TiO₂ hollow hybrid structures can be obtained. The XRD and XPS characterizations proved the formation of anatase TiO₂ and PbS. The TEM characterization confirmed the formation of hollow structures in the PbS‐TiO₂ hybrid sample. The photocatalytic activity of the hollow PbS‐TiO₂ hybrid spheres have been investigated for the degradation of Cr⁶⁺ under visible light. The results show that hollow PbS‐TiO₂ hybrid spheres exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, in which almost all the Cr⁶⁺ was degraded after 140 min.     

Microporous Silica Hollow Nanospheres Templated by Anionic Polypeptide

Anionic polypeptide, the poly(sodium L-glutamate), was applied to fabricate microporous silica hollow nanospheres templated by the secondary structures of the polypeptide as porogens. In the synthesis, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APMS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) were used as the silica sources, and the coassembly followed the mechanism of the anionic surfactant-templated mesoporous silica (AMS) through a S_-N₊-I_- pathway, where S indicates the anionic polypeptide, I indicates inorganic precursors (TEOS), and N indicates costructure-directing agent (APMS), which interacted with the negatively charged anionic polypeptide secondary structures electrostatically and cocondensed with silica source to form the silica framework. The product was subjected to characterizations of X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmitted electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement. It was found that the pH value of the synthesis solution was an important factor to the morphological control of the silica products. Besides the microporous hollow nanospheres, microporous submicron silica solid and hollow spheres were also obtained facilely by changing the synthesis parameters. Our study further implied that anionic polypeptides, which were able to control mineralization of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate, could also induce silica condensation in the presence of proper silica precursors. It was also expected that functional calcium carbonate (phosphate)/silica-nanocomposite materials would be fabricated under the control of the anionic polypeptide.     

模板法制备复合中空微球

本文报道以一种商品化的聚苯乙烯中空球为模板, 采用溶胀聚合技术合成了具有IPN(Inter-Penetrating Network)结构的复合中空球; 对其中的一种高分子网络进行化学改性引入所需官能团, 制得带有羧基的聚合物凝胶中空球; 利用凝胶诱导生长特性, 成功制得聚合物复合中空球. 此方法无需去除模板就可批量制备各种复合功能中空球.     

单分散SnO2中空微纳米球的制备和性质

模板法是制备无机中空微纳米球的重要方法之一. 本文以苯乙烯为单体, 通过乳液聚合得到粒径约为620 nm的单分散聚苯乙烯(PS)微球. 以磺化后的聚苯乙烯(PSS)微球为模板, 利用阴阳离子静电吸附作用, 将PSS与前驱体SnSO₄中的Sn²⁺结合. 通过Sn²⁺在乙醇-水介质中的水解作用得到核-壳复合结构, 再经高温煅烧, 得到SnO₂中空微纳米球. 实验对前驱体的浓度、表面活性剂的用量、反应时间及模板选择等方面做了研究,通过扫描电镜(SEM)、X 射线衍射(XRD)、红外(IR) 光谱、热重分析(TGA)、H₂ 程序升温还原(H₂-TPR)、Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)比表面积等技术深入探究SnO₂中空微纳米球的结构, 并对比中空SnO₂与实心粒子的氧化还原特性. BET和H₂-TPR显示将SnO₂制备成微纳米空心球后其比表面积增大, 表面氧空位明显增多, 氧化活性明显提高. 从IR 及XRD推断核-壳结构形成机理, 进而优化出简单合理的实验方案, 获得表面光滑、结构致密, 包覆厚度可控的SnO₂中空微纳米球.     

Hollow silica spheres with an ordered pore structure and their application in controlled release studies

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of hollow silica spheres with a narrow size distribution, uniform wall thickness, and a worm-like pore structure. The formation of these spheres was monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy and dynamic light scattering. A model for the molecular build-up of these silica hollow spheres is derived from these data in combination with studies of the as-made particles by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, pore size analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. We further demonstrate that these spheres can be used for the encapsulation and subsequent release of different dye molecules.     

反应性模板法合成硫化银中空球-银纳米粒子异质结构

以Cu₂S中空球为反应性模板, 通过在水溶液中与银离子的阳离子交换和氧化还原反应制备了大小均匀的Ag₂S中空球-Ag纳米粒子异质结构, 即Ag₂S-Ag异质中空球. 该异质结构中每个Ag₂S中空球的直径约为600 nm, 壁厚约20–30 nm, 其表面均附着一个Ag纳米粒子. 采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和能量色散X射线谱(EDS)对所得Ag₂S-Ag异质中空球的结构和组成进行了表征. 若以CuS中空球为反应性模板, 在相似转化条件下则主要得到不含Ag粒子的Ag₂S中空球. 该结果表明, Cu₂S中的Cu(I)的还原性在Ag₂S-Ag异质中空球的形成中发挥了重要作用. 通过对所制备的Ag₂S-Ag异质中空球进行二次生长, 还可以得到Ag₂S中空球的半球表面均被Ag膜所包覆的Ag₂S-Ag异质中空球.     

Fabrication of triple-shelled hollow spheres with optical properties via RAFT polymerization

<正>The triple-shelled hollow spheres with optical properties were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.After removal the core templates of the poly(styrene),the hollow silica spheres were obtained.The coating process of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) on the hollow silica spheres surface via surface RAFT polymerization was performed subsequently.The polymers coated on the hollow spheres surfaces were end-functionalized by trithiocarbonate,and they were used as RAFT agent to proceed the chain extension polymerization using Tb complex as monomer.The samples were characterized by FT-IR,SEM and luminescence spectroscopy respectively.The results indicated that the triple-shelled hollow spheres had been prepared successfully and the average diameter of the hollow core was about 1μm.     

利用嵌段共聚物及无机盐合成高质量的立方相、大孔径介孔氧化硅球

使用非离子型嵌段高分子表面活性剂为模板剂,在无机盐的作用下,合成了直 径在2～4 mm、高度有序、立方相的介孔氧化硅SBA-16球。利用无机盐来调变无机 /有机物种之间的作用力和自组装能力,不仅在介观尺寸上提高了所合成介孔材料 的有序程度,而且在宏观上控制了介孔材料的形貌。经焙烧后的SBA-16球材料比表 面积为750 m~2/g,孔容为0.52 cm~3/g,孔径为7.8 nm。具有大孔径的SBA-16球材 料可以更方便地应用于大分子吸附和分离等领域。     

Preparation of single-hole hollow polymer nanospheres by raspberry-like template method

Single-hole hollow polymer nanospheres were fabricated by raspberry-like template method using "graft-from" strategy through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Nanometer-sized silica spheres were covalently attached onto the surfaces of micrometer-sized silica spheres. Crosslinked polymer shells on the nano-sized spheres outside the attached area were formed by "graft-from" strategy through ATRP. After removal of the silica cores, single-hole hollow crosslinked polymer nanospheres were obtained. In this strategy, most of ATRP monomers may be used and thus many functional groups can be easily incorporated into the single-hole hollow crosslinked polymer nanospheres.     

Synthesis of micron-sized hollow silica spheres with a novel mesoporous shell of MCF

Micron-sized hollow silica spheres whose shells are made up of mesocellular silica foams(MCFs) have been synthesized by one-pot sol-gel method in benzene/water/P123 emulsion.The material is characterized with SEM,TEM,BET and ~(29)Si MAS NMR. The results show that the MCFs of the unique shell of hollow silica spheres were connected by large windows with a narrow distribution of～10 nm in diameter,the inner space of the hollow sphere is accessible.And the formation mechanism of the hollow silica spheres is ...     

An NMR study of the species produced by the reactions of dialkyl magnesium and HCl with calcined silica and the polymerisation performance of Ziegler-Natta catalysts produced from this support material

The effect of calcinations on the silica surface groups and thereby on the activity of Ziegler-Natta catalysts in ethylene homopolymerisation has been studied. Silica was calcined at different temperatures and treated with MgR₂ and HCl. Silica surface groups were identified by using ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C and ²⁹Si CP MAS NMR techniques. Magnesium, titanium and chlorine were measured by elemental analysis. Ziegler-Natta catalysts were prepared from these supports and subsequently used in ethylene homopolymerisation. Maximum activity was obtained with the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica. The results indicate that MgR₂ reacts with siloxane-groups (Si-O-Si) in the 300 °C calcined silica, leaving the hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl-groups unreacted. Low activity Si-O-Ti(Cl)₂-O-Si species are formed after reacting with TiCl₄. The higher activity in the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica can be explained by the formation of -Si(R)-O-Si-O-TiCl₃ groups, originating from the siloxane bridges which cannot form in 300 °C calcined silica. Other explanations for the higher activity are a higher Mg/Ti ratio or small amounts of crystal water formed in the 590 °C calcined silica.     

中空纳米二氧化硅微球的制备及表征

本文介绍了一种制备中空纳米二氧化硅微球的新方法。利用模板首先合成介孔纳米二氧化硅微球,再用水热反应法,成功制备了非功能化和巯基、氨基功能化中空纳米二氧化硅微球。利用透射电子显微镜,热重分析等手段对其形貌进行了表征。另外,对中空介孔纳米二氧化硅微球的形成机制进行了探讨。     

Selective Functionalization of Hollow Nanospheres with Acid and Base Groups for Cascade Reactions

The inner‐surface functionalization of hollow silica spheres has rarely been reported and is still a challenging topic. Herein, we report a deacetalization–Henry cascade reaction catalyzed by dual‐functionalized mesoporous silica hollow nanospheres with basic amine groups (?NH₂) on the internal shell and carboxylic acid groups (?COOH) on the external shell. The selective functionalization has been realized by a combination of “step‐by‐step post‐grafting” and “cationic surfactant‐assisted selective etching” strategy. Compared to unisolated catalyst, the selectively isolated acidic and basic dual catalyst provides excellent catalytic performance for the deacetalization–Henry cascade reaction in terms of both activity (>99 %) and selectivity (95 %).