New understanding and controllable synthesis of silica hollow microspheres with size-tunable penetrating macroporous shells as a superior support for polystyrene hydrogenation catalysts

Silica hollow microspheres (SHMs) with size-tunable penetrating macropores from 250 nm to 560 nm are prepared by a water/oil/water ternary phase emulsion system. Furthermore, the thus-obtained SHMs can serve as a superior support to fabricate supported palladium catalysts for the hydrogenation of bulky polystyrene molecules.