Encapsulation of multiple large spherical silica nanoparticles in hollow spherical silica shells

Abstract

Here we present the results of a stepwise synthesis of multiple large silica nanoparticles encapsulated in hollow, micron sized silica shells for future display applications. In the first step, 200-nm diameter silica nanoparticles were modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate (MPS) coupling agent. These nanoparticles were then embedded in micron-sized polystyrene particles synthesized through dispersion polymerization. To form silica shells on the polymer composite particles, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) was added with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant. These three steps resulted in the formation of silica shell-covered solid polystyrene particles, each containing multiple silica nanoparticles. In the last step, polystyrene content was removed via calcination to achieve a multiple-silica-core-in-hollow-silica-shell composite structure. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the core/shell morphology of the composite structure.