Hierarchical fabrication of silica cocoon with hexagonally ordered channel constructed wall via an emulsion-assisted process

Silica cocoons are synthesized via a cooperation of hexagonal P123 micelles and O/W emulsions. These silica cocoons are closed on one side but open on another side. The wall of these silica cocoons is hierarchically constructed by hexagonally ordered channels, which is produced by the aggregation of P123 micelles onto the emulsion droplets while the alternating protuberant and hollow wall of these silica cocoons result from a preferential silica condensation around the emulsion droplets. This paper provides a tunable route to synthesis hierarchically constructed nano-sized silica material with 200–500 nm long hexagonally ordered channels, which is determined by the size of the emulsion droplets.

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► Hierarchical silica cocoons with hexagonally ordered channels were synthesized via an O/W emulsion-assisted process.
► The length of the hexagonally ordered channels ranging from 200 to 500 nm is determined by the size of the emulsion droplets.
► Stirring may favor the aggregation of emulsion droplets and benefit the formation of hexagonally ordered channels.