Synthesis and characterization of hollow silica spheres

The synthesis and characterization of mono-dispersed silica hollow spheres using polystyrene (PS) spheres as template from the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) is presented. Successive washing steps with toluene and subsequent calcination at different temperatures were p...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gorsd, Marina Noelia, Pizzio, Luis Rene, Blanco, Mirta Noemi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/4619
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/4619
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Silica
Hollow spheres
Polystyrene
TEOS
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.4
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
Descripción
Sumario:The synthesis and characterization of mono-dispersed silica hollow spheres using polystyrene (PS) spheres as template from the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) is presented. Successive washing steps with toluene and subsequent calcination at different temperatures were performed, in order to remove the PS template. Furthermore, the PS core removal was studied using different calcination temperatures, but without the prior washing with toluene. The morphology of the materials was studied by scanning electron microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy. A shell formed by silica nanoparticles with 50 nm diameter, being the layer of 100 nm thickness, was observed when using a low concentration of catalyst in the sol-gel reaction. The textural properties of the silica coating, obtained from N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, depend on the catalyst amount added for the TEOS hydrolysis. From the Fourier transform infrared spectra and the results of the thermogravimetric analyses, it was found that the almost complete removal of the polystyrene core can be directly achieved by calcining at 500 °C, without the need of carrying out any washing and minimizing the formation of cracks in the silica hollow spheres.