Preparation of mesoporous 1,2-ethylene-silica hollow spheres with tunable wall thickness

Frustule-like hollow nanospheres attracted much attention due to their potential applications for catalysis and drug release. Recently, varieties of hollow silica nanospheres with mesopores in the walls were prepared. However, hollow organic–inorganic hybrid silica nanospheres were not well developed. Herein, mesoporous 1,2-ethylene-silica hollow nanospheres with tunable wall thickness were prepared through a chiral amphiphile/organic solvent dual-templating approach. The mesopores within the shells of the hollow spheres have a window structure. A micelle/organic solvent droplet mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of the mesoporous organosilica hollow spheres. These 1,2-ethylene-silicas were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and N2 sorptions.

► Mesoporous 1,2-ethylene-silica hollow nanospheres were prepared. ► The thickness of the shells was tunable by changing the amount of cyclohexane. ► Chambers were identified within the large cavities. ► N2 sorptions indicated the existence of widows among the mesopores in the shells.