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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles Through Microwave-assisted Acid-catalysis
Published on: December 16, 2013
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with controllable morphology prepared from oil-in-water emulsions
Hanna Gustafsson1, Simon Isaksson2, Annika Altskär3
1Applied Surface Chemistry, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden; Biological Physics, Dept. of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden.
Abstract:
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles are an important class of materials with a wide range of applications. This paper presents a simple protocol for synthesis of particles as small as 40nm and with a pore size that can be as large as 9nm. Reaction conditions including type of surfactant, type of catalyst and presence of organic polymer were investigated in order to optimize the synthesis. An important aim of the work was to understand the mechanism behind the formation of these unusual structures and an explanation based on silica condensation in the small aqueous microemulsion droplets that are present inside the drops of an oil-in-water emulsion is put forward.
