Single-step coating of mesoporous silica on cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-capped nanoparticles

A generalized, single-step synthesis procedure to coat individual cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide- (CTAB) capped nanoparticles with a thin layer of mesoporous silica is outlined. This coating method was demonstrated on CTAB-capped Au nanorods and CTAB-transferred CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with silica coatings approximately 15 nm thick containing pores approximately 4 nm in diameter. This porous silica coating can serve as a platform for further surface modification to facilitate the rapid translation of nanoparticles to a wide range of end applications.