A dual template method for synthesizing hollow silica spheres with mesoporous shells

PS/silica core/shell composites were synthesized by the modified Stober method using polystyrene spheres and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as dual templates under room temperature. The silicate species and the templates were self-assembled to form mesoporous, silica shell on the surface of the PS spheres. Hollow silica spheres with mesoporous shell were obtained by removing the polymer core and the templates through calcination. The hollow silica spheres showed high specific surface area of 1099.5 m(2)/g and narrow pore size distribution centered at 2.31 nm. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.