A Novel Pathway for Synthesis of Submicrometer-Size Solid Core/Mesoporous Shell Silica Spheres

The synthesis of tailored nanoparticles—non-porous and porous—is a major challenge in advanced materials science. The authors here report the synthesis of submicrometer-size silica particles with a solid core and a thin porous shell (see Figure). The thermal stability and the high specific surface area make these silica beads suitable as adsorbents for various applications in chromatography.