Synthesis of stable hollow silica nanospheres

Hollow silica nanospheres with their size distribution ranging from 350 nm to 450 nm are synthesized by using polystyrene (PS) templates in the present study. On the basis of PS templates, silica, the hydrolyzate of TEOS(tetraethyl orthosilicate) under moist alkaline condition at ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressures, it is set to be coated on the surface of the PS spheres. Since the size of PS sphere core can be easily controlled, it is expected to serve various needs of different sized hollow silica nanospheres in industrial applications. It is proposed that the PS cores be removed by either thermal pyrogenation or solvent dissolved. Morphology of the hollow silica nanospheres is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).