Generation of a mesoporous silica MSU shell onto solid core silicananoparticles using a simple two-step sol–gel process

Abstract

Silica core–shell nanoparticles with a MSU shell have been synthesized using several non-ionic poly(ethylene oxide) based surfactantsvia a two step sol–gel method. The materials exhibit a typical worm-hole pore structure and tunable pore diameters between 2.4 nm and 5.8 nm.