Preparation of core-shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with bimodal pore structures by regrowth method

Core-shell structured mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with different pore characteristics in the cores and shells have been prepared by the regrowth method. Adding a silica source to a dispersion of presynthesized silica-surfactant composite nanoparticles with two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructures results in regrowth in preference to generation of new particles. Core-shell MSNs with bimodal porosities are easily obtained by adding a pore-expanding agent, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, in either the core or shell formation step. Detailed characterization of the core-shell MSNs reveals that the shells consist of disordered arrangements of relatively large or small pores and that the pore sizes in the cores change when the shells formed. Core-shell MSNs will be useful for controlling the release rates of the encapsulated guest molecules and for protecting internal pores from being plugged by other species.