Preparation and Characterization of Hollow Spheres with Cubic Mesoporous Shell

Abstract

This work demonstrated an approach of oil/water (O/W) microemulsion on preparation of hollow spheres with mesopores in the shell, in which a cationic surfactant was used as structural directing agent, alkane molecule as mesopore-swelling agent and oil droplets. The morphology and pore architecture of the obtained hollow spheres were characterized by SEM, XRD, TEM and N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. Cubic ( Ia3d ) mesopores are present in the shell and provide open channels for mass transport in between the hollow core and outer environment. The obtained hollow spheres with cubic mesoporous shell possess the potential of being used as nanoreactor and nanocontainer in the fields of catalysis and drug delivery.