Lipid-inspired biomimicking morphosynthesis of a series of complex concave silica architectures

Abstract

The lipid-inspired biosilicification process enables the creation of a series of concave silica nanoarchitectures in the complex shapes of nanobowls, nanodishes, nanoboats, and nanoloops. The reaction at a pH of 8 initially allows the formation of thin and elastic circular gel nanosheets that can undergo inducible stretching and folding, which subsequently evolves into nanodish and nanobowl through a potential global buckling process. The adjustment of the pH to 9 and 4 enables the production of more complex morphogens of nanoboat and nanoloop, respectively. These unique silica nanoarchitectures may have a wide scope of potential application from nanoreactors in heterogenous catalysis to drug delivery systems and optical materials.