Open AccessFacile interfacial synthesis of silica/titania mesoporous microcapsules via in situ miniemulsification process
Author(s) -
Song Yuanyuan,
Zhang Zhili,
Tan Shen,
Zhang Jianan,
Wu Mingyuan,
Wu Qingyun,
Yang Jianjun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2015.0024
Subject(s) - miniemulsion , materials science , mesoporous silica , chemical engineering , mesoporous material , hexadecane , methacrylate , bromide , titanium , contact angle , polymer chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , chemistry , copolymer , polymerization , composite material , polymer , metallurgy , engineering
A facile and flexible technique is described for the fabrication of silica/titania microcapsules from stable miniemulsion droplets. Bis (2,4‐pentanedionato)‐bis (2‐propanolato) titanium (IV) (PDPT), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and γ –(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate and/are restricted in miniemulsion microreactor droplets via a miniemulsification process, are stabilised by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and hexadecane. After the addition of triethylamine, silica/titania shells are formed in situ by the hydrolysis–condensation at the interfaces of miniemulsion droplets because of the dramatical decrease of the original TEOS and PDPT volume. The mesoporous silica/titania microcapsules are about 1 μm with average pore size of 5.2 nm and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area is 312.0 cm 2 /g. The biocompatible and mesoporous nature of microcapsules promises an ideal vehicle for catalyst and drug delivery.