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Preparation of silica capsules via an acid-catalyzed sol–gel process in inverse miniemulsions

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Abstract

Silica capsules were prepared via a sol–gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in inverse miniemulsions under highly acidic conditions (pH < 2). Formation of silica capsules under acidic conditions proceeded via internal phase separation of silica species in the droplets. This mechanism is different from the well-known interfacial reaction mechanism for most syntheses of silica capsules. The driving force for the formation of capsules was the interaction between silica species and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as well as between silica species and the hydrophilic block of the block copolymer surfactant, poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P(E/B)-PEO). The effects of synthetic parameters on the particle morphology and size were systematically investigated in terms of the reaction time, amount of TEOS, CTAB, P(E/B)-PEO, and hydrochloric acid concentration, as well as addition of ethanol.

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Acknowledgements

The financial supports from National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (NNSFC) project (51003023 and 51273182), the Hangzhou Normal University High-Level Talents Start-up Fund (2011QDL04), Open Foundation of Zhejiang Provincial Top Key Academic Discipline of Applied Chemistry and Eco-Dyeing & Finishing Engineering (YR2012007), Zhejiang Province’s Xinmiao Talent Plan (2013R421041), and National Undergraduate Training Programs for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of China (201310346013) are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Research Center for Eco-Dyeing & Finishing of Textiles, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Zhijie Chen, Dongming Qi & Zhihai Cao

  2. College of Materials, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Xuelin Street 16, Hangzhou, 310036, China

    Liu Yang & Yingjie Yan

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  1. Zhijie Chen
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  2. Liu Yang
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  3. Yingjie Yan
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  4. Dongming Qi
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  5. Zhihai Cao
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Correspondence to Dongming Qi or Zhihai Cao.

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Chen, Z., Yang, L., Yan, Y. et al. Preparation of silica capsules via an acid-catalyzed sol–gel process in inverse miniemulsions. Colloid Polym Sci 292, 1585–1597 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-014-3211-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-014-3211-2

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