Self-templated synthesis of hollow silica microspheres using Na2SiO3 precursor

- A facile synthesis has been developed to convert directly solid Na2SiO3.
- The synthesis has been carried out at ambient pressure and temperature.
- Hydrolysis was performed using ethanol, Na2SiO3 particles and HCl solution.
- Other precipitants (NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4, B2O3) were tested.
- The particle characteristics were investigated by TGA, FE-SEM, XRD, and BET.