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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
All-silica colloidosomes with a particle-bilayer shell
Hailin Wang1, Xiaomin Zhu, Larisa Tsarkova
1DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V. and Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry of RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 8, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
Abstract:
We report on the preparation of all-silica colloidosomes with adjustable size, shell structure, mechanical strength, and permeability. Our approach is based on the coassembly at the water/oil interface of silica nanoparticles and a silica precursor polymer-hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane-which acts as a binder for particles as well as an additional interfacial component. Remarkably, the shell of colloidosomes can be fine-tuned from a particle monolayer up to a bilayer bound with a sandwiched thin silica film. This method presents a facile approach toward multiscale production of microcapsules which have a high potential in encapsulation technology and in smart coating formulations.
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