Fabrication of silica nanoparticles and hollow spheres using ionic liquid microemulsion droplets as templates

Silica products with two different morphologies were synthesized using nonaqueous ionic liquid microemulsion droplets as templates. The morphologies of the obtained products were characterized by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By adjusting the reaction conditions, ellipsoidal nanoparticles were formed under acidic conditions, while hollow silica spheres were obtained under alkaline conditions. It is demonstrated that the size distribution of hollow silica spheres was narrower than that of the ellipsoidal nanoparticles. The various vibration modes of different functional groups in the silica materials were revealed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The two samples were both shown to be amorphous, not crystalline by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A simple diagram of the formation process including the hydrolysis and condensation reactions is given. Furthermore, a probable mechanism for the formation of silica materials under acidic or alkaline conditions is presented, which may be helpful for better understanding the different silica materials obtained under different conditions.     

pH-Responsive hollow polymeric microspheres and concentric hollow silica microspheres from silica-polymer core-shell microspheres

Nearly monodispersed silica-poly(methacrylic acid) (SiO 2-PMAA) core-shell microspheres were synthesized by distillation-precipitation polymerization from 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate-silica (SiO 2-MPS) particle templates. SiO 2-PMAA-SiO 2 trilayer hybrid microspheres were subsequently prepared by coating of an outer layer of SiO 2 on the SiO 2-PMAA core-shell microspheres in a sol-gel process. pH-Responsive PMAA hollow microspheres with flexible (deformable) shells were obtained after selective removal of the inorganic SiO 2 core from the SiO 2-PMAA core-shell microspheres by HF etching. The pH-responsive properties of the PMAA hollow microspheres were investigated by dynamic laser scattering (DLS). On the other hand, concentric and rigid hollow silica microspheres were prepared by selective removal of the PMAA interlayer from the SiO 2-PMAA-SiO 2 trilayer hybrid microspheres during calcination. The hybrid composite microspheres, pH-sensitive hollow microspheres, and concentric hollow silica microspheres were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis.     

Facile fabrication of hollow silica and titania microspheres using plasma-treated polystyrene spheres as sacrificial templates

By means of a plasma technique, the surfaces of monodisperse polystyrene (PS) colloids have been modified with hydroxyl groups. Using these surface-modified PS colloids as sacrificial templates, we have fabricated silica-coated PS colloids (PS@silica) and titania-coated PS colloids (PS@titania) composite microspheres as well as hollow and mesoporous silica and titania microspheres. This process not only demonstrated a facile, low-cost, environmentally benign way to fabricate hollow oxides structures but also offered a feasible alternative to the preparation of polymer/inorganic oxide composites by templating against the polymer substrate with hydrophobic surfaces.     

Fabrication of hollow silica spheres using droplet templates derived from a miniemulsion technique

Hollow silica spheres have been successfully fabricated by means of a miniemulsion technique, in which miniemulsion droplets of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and octane were prepared with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a surfactant and hexadecane as a costabilizer and used as templates. As the TEOS diffused out from the droplets, it was hydrolyzed and condensed to form a silica shell at the oil/water interface. In this way, hollow silica spheres could be obtained directly since the miniemulsion droplets of octane could be evaporated very easily during the reaction process or the drying process; neither an additional dissolution nor a calcination process or additional surface modification of the templates were needed.     

Fabrication of hollow silica microspheres utilizing a hydrothermal approach

Hollow silica microspheres(HSMSs) have been successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal route using D-glucose as the sacrificial template and sodium silicate powder as the silica precursor.The resulting silica hollow particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),and infrared spectroscopy(IR).The surface area was determined using the BET method.SEM and TEM images exhibited micro-sized silica hollow particles with a size of ~1.5μm.     

Uniform chitosan hollow microspheres prepared with the sulfonated polystyrene particles templates

Biodegradable chitosan hollow microspheres have been fabricated by employing uniform sulfonated polystyrene (PS) particles as templates. The chitosan was adsorbed onto the surface of the sulfonated polystyrene templates through the electrostatic interaction between the sulfonic acid groups on the templates and the amino groups on the chitosan. Subsequently, the adsorbed chitosan was crosslinked by adding glutaraldehyde. After the removal of the sulfonated polystyrene core, chitosan hollow microspheres were obtained. The longer the sulfonation time used, the smaller the size of the hollow particles and the thicker the chitosan wall obtained. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was used to characterize the component of the microspheres. The morphologies of the PS templates and the chitosan microspheres were observed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The controlled release behavior of the chitosan hollow microspheres was also primarily investigated.     

Synthesis of porous hollow silica nanostructures using hydroxyapatite nanoparticle templates

Porous hollow spherical and rod-like silica nanoparticles were obtained via a surfactant templating method adopting hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles as an etchable core material.     

Fabrication of hollow spheres of metal oxide using fructose-derived carbonaceous spheres as sacrificial templates

In this report, fructose-derived carbonaceous spheres were utilized as sacrificial templates for the fabrication of metal oxide hollow spheres (MOHSs) by a facile hydrothermal approach. Hollow spheres of a series of crystalline metal oxides (α-Fe₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, Co₃O₄, NiO, and ZnO) have been fabricated, utilizing the metal chloride as the oxide precursors. Heating of an aqueous solution of the metal chloride and fructose to moderate temperature in an autoclave affords a spherical composite consisting of a metal precursor shell sheathing a carbonaceous core. Subsequent removal of the interior carbonaceous cores by thermal treatment through oxidation in air produces free-standing crystalline oxides hollow spheres. The MOHSs were characterized by means of SEM, TEM, XRD, IR spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and sorption measurements. The results show convincingly that using fructose as a sacrificial template after application of a hydrothermal synthesis route could be a favourable sacrificial template for the fabrication of various MOHSs.     

Fabrication of polystyrene–PbS core-shell and hollow PbS microspheres with sulfonated polystyrene templates

Uniform inorganic- (PbS) coated polymer core-shell and hollow PbS microspheres were prepared by an easy and economical approach. Monodisperse polystyrene (PS) microspheres were used as templates, as well as the core of the composite spheres; lead sulfide shells were obtained through the reaction of lead acetate (Pb(CH₃COO)₂) and thioacetamide (TAA) at room temperature. The morphologies and structures of the as-synthesized products were systematically characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The fluorescence property of the as-synthesized product was also investigated. A reasonable mechanism for the formation of PS–PbS core-shell and hollow PbS microspheres was discussed. According to a series of parallel experiments, effects of related experimental parameters were also carefully investigated, such as the molar ratio of Pb(CH₃COO)₂ to TAA, reaction temperature, etc.     

Synthesis of highly-ordered mesoporous silica particles using mixed cationic and anionic surfactants as templates

We applied a molecular assembly formed in an aqueous surfactant mixture of cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic sodium octylsulfate (SOS) as templates of mesoporous silica materials. The hexagonal pore size can be controlled between 3.22 and 3.66 nm with the mixed surfactant system. In addition, we could observe the lamellar structure of the mixed surfactants with precursor molecules, which strongly shows the possibility of precise control of both the pore size and the structure of pores by changing the mixing ratio of surfactants. Moreover, use of the cationic surfactant having longer hydrophobic chain like stearyltrimethylammonium bromide (STAB) caused the increase in d(100) space and shifted the point of phase transition from hexagonal phase to lamellar phase to lower concentration of SOS.     

Preparation of uniform silica/polypyrrole core/shell microspheres and polypyrrole hollow microspheres by the template of modified silica particles using different modified agents

Silica/polypyrrole (PPY) core/shell microspheres and PPY hollow microspheres were prepared by the template of silica particles whose surface character was modified with different modified agents. The morphology and structure of the particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were carried out to characterize the structure of PPY hollow microspheres. We investigated the effect of different modified agents on the surface character of silica particles and the effect of surface character of silica particles on the morphology of PPY hollow microspheres. The effect of reaction conditions on the size of core/shell particles and hollow particles was also studied.     

Nanostructured gold hollow microspheres prepared on dissolvable ceramic hollow sphere templates

Fifty and one-hundred micrometer diameter nanostructured gold hollow microspheres (GHSs), in >98% purity, have been prepared by using ceramic hollow spheres, CHSs, as templates. Tennanometer diameter gold nanoparticles were covalently linked to the thiol moiety of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane, which had been self-assembled onto the CHSs. Greater structural strength was obtained by the generation of additional gold nanoparticles, in situ on the gold nanoparticle coated CHSs (by immersing the gold nanoparticle coated CHSs into an aqueous mixture of hydroxylamine and gold chloride). GHSs were obtained by dissolving the CHSs templates. The sizes, shapes, surface areas (185.3 m2/g for CHSs and 182.9 m2/g for GHSs), pore diameters (7.7 nm for CHSs and 7.8 nm for GHSs), and pore volumes (0.41 cm3/g for CHSs and 0.36 cm3/g for GHSs) of GHSs were quite similar to their CHSs counterparts. Significantly, GHSs showed surface plasmon bands whose maximum (644 nm) shifted from that observed for the parent 10-nm gold nanoparticles (522 nm).     

磷钨酸钾模板法制备高活性二氧化钛空心微球

TiO2空心微球因具有低密度、高活性、易分离而有利于多次重复使用的优点而广受关注.本文介绍一种无氟制备TiO2空心微球的简单方法——磷钨酸钾(K3PW12O40)模板法.首先,将H3PW12O40和KCl溶液混匀,得到白色牛奶状的K3PW12O40模板(式(1)),然后在磁力搅拌下加入一定量的Ti(SO4)2粉末,加热至大约125oC开始回流.回流8 h后,过滤洗涤.滤饼分散在强NaOH溶液中,原位除去K3PW12O40模板(式(2)).最后,将催化剂洗涤到滤液为中性,干燥后即得到TiO2空心微球.3KCl + H3PW12O40= K3PW12O40ˉ+3HCl (1) K3PW12O40+24NaOH =12Na2WO4+ K3PO4+12 H2O (2) Ti(SO4)2+2H2O = TiO2+2H2SO4(3)我们将所制备的TiO2空心微球,采用X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、傅立叶红外光谱、固体粉末漫反射和X射线光电子能谱等进行了表征.采用紫外光催化降解阴离子染料(活性嫣红X3B)来评价催化剂的性能.实验结果显示：(1)所制TiO2空心微球直径在0.5–1.0μm;(2)磷钨酸钾模板剂充当晶核,有利于空心微球的晶化;(3)加入的高浓度硫酸钛,水解产生大量的硫酸,抑制硫酸钛水解,不利于TiO2空心微球的晶化(式(3));(4)催化剂的活性随着硫酸钛量的增加而先增后降.4 mmol硫酸钛用量的TiO2空心微球具有最高的光催化活性,是TiO2颗粒样品(无磷钨酸钾模板法制备)的2.1倍.用该方法制备的TiO2空心微球活性高可归因于以下主要原因：(1)TiO2空心微球独特的孔结构;(2)良好的晶化程度(TiO2样品晶化度越高,越有利于光生载流子的分离,抑制复合);(3)样品残余磷钨酸钾模板和TiO2之间存在光生电子转移,有利于空心微球TiO2活性的提高.该法具有操作简单、重复性好、易于批量制备的等优点,有望广泛应用于(光)催化、电化学、分离与纯化以及药物缓释等领域.     

Use of carbonaceous polysaccharide microspheres as templates for fabricating metal oxide hollow spheres

A general method for the synthesis of metal oxide hollow spheres has been developed by using carbonaceous polysaccharide microspheres prepared from saccharide solution as templates. Hollow spheres of a series of metal oxides (SnO2, Al2O3, Ga2O3, CoO, NiO, Mn3O4, Cr2O3, La2O3, Y2O3, Lu2O3, CeO2, TiO2, and ZrO2) have been prepared in this way. The method involves the initial absorption of metal ions from solution into the functional surface layer of carbonaceous saccharide microspheres; these are then densified and cross-linked in a subsequent calcination and oxidation procedure to form metal oxide hollow spheres. Metal salts are used as starting materials, which widens the accessible field of metal oxide hollow spheres. The carbonaceous colloids used as templates have integral and uniform surface functional layers, which makes surface modification unnecessary and ensures homogeneity of the shell. Macroporous films or cheese-like nanostructures of oxides can also be prepared by slightly modified procedures. XRD, TEM, HRTEM, and SAED have been used to characterize the structures. In a preliminary study on the gas sensitivity of SnO2 hollow spheres, considerably reduced "recovery times" were noted, exemplifying the distinct properties imparted by the hollow structure. These hollow or porous nanostructures have the potential for diverse applications, such as in gas sensitivity or catalysis, or as advanced ceramic materials.     

Fabrication of hollow melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules from microbubble templates

A fabrication method for hollow melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules from microbubble templates is presented. This method is based on the direct encapsulation of microbubbles, and thus does not require a liquid- or solid-core decomposition process. This study determined the conditions for controlling the surface morphology, shell thickness, and diameter distribution of hollow microcapsules. Results showed that the surface morphology of these hollow microcapsules depended on the reaction time, glycine concentration (pH of aqueous continuous phase) and pre-polymer concentration. The capsule shell thickness could be controlled by adjusting the concentration of aniline that had adsorbed on the microbubble surface and reacted with pre-polymer. The capsule diameter depended on the dissolution rate of gases, and the diameter of the hollow microcapsules fabricated from air microbubble templates ranged from 5 to 200 microm.     

Interfacial synthesis of hollow microspheres of mesostructured silica

Hollow microspheres with ordered mesoporous walls are synthesised under ambient conditions by a simple procedure involving dilution and neutralisation of an aqueous tetraethoxysilane/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide reaction mixture.     

Synthesis of hollow crosslinked miktoarm polymer using miniemulsion as templates

Hollow crosslinked polymers (HCPs) were synthesized using arm first method via atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymerization process was performed in miniemulsion system, in which the macroinitiator, PEG‐Br, was in the water phase, whereas the vinyl‐monomer, 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP), and the crosslinker, DVB, were in the butanone phase. TEM images and light scattering characterization showed that the resultant polymer contained a hollow space, and the volume of the hollow space could be adjusted by changing the ratio of water to butanone. Also, hollow crosslinked Miktoarm polymers (HCMPs) were synthesized through this method when two different macroinitiators, PEG‐Br and PNIPAM‐Br, were used to coinitiate the polymerization of the vinyl‐monomer, 4VP and DVB. The ¹H NMR spectra showed that the hollow polymers contained both PEG arms and PNIPAM arms. The hollow morphologies of the resultant Miktoarm polymers were the same as the HCPs. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1651–1660, 2009     

Hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic property of porous CuO hollow microspheres via PS latex as templates

Porous copper oxide (CuO) hollow microspheres have been fabricated through a simple hydrothermal method using PS latex as templates. The as-obtained samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The influences of the mole ratio of Ethylenediamine (C₂H₈N₂) and copper acetate (Cu(Ac)₂·H₂O), hydrothermal temperature and time on the size and morphologies of the final products have been investigated. The possible formation mechanism of porous CuO hollow microspheres has been proposed and the specific surface area of the hollow microspheres with 81.71 m²/g is measured by BET method. The band gap value calculated from a UV–vis absorption spectrum of porous CuO hollow microspheres is 2.71 eV. The as-synthesized product exhibits high photocatalytic activity during the photodegradation of an organic dyestuff, rhodamine B (RhB), under UV-light illumination.     

Synthesis of lamellar mesoporous silica materials using LCs as templates

The study focuses on the synthesis of mesoporous silica materials using liquid crystals (LCs) formed in an aqueous mixture of cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as templates and tetrathoxysilane (TEOS) as precursor. For this purpose, the phase behavior and range of LC areas were determined at different temperatures, concentrations, and ratios of CTAB/SDS. It was found that LCs became denser with the increased of concentration of surfactants. The mesoporous materials were synthesized using LCs as templates at various temperatures, surfactant concentrations, and pH values. The mesoporous samples were characterized using SEM and nitrogen sorption analysis. The research results showed that the structure of synthesized samples were lamellar and their surface areas increased significantly with the increase of temperature in the temperature range of LCs, reaching about 900?m²/g at 60°C. The surfactant concentrations affect the thickness of pore wall and thereby the specific surface area of products. The specific surface area and the order of mesoporous sample increased gradually with the decrease of pH.