Synthesis of Uniform-Size Hollow Silica Microspheres through Interfacial Polymerization in Monodisperse Water-in-Oil Droplets

Abstract

We have developed a microfluidic method to produce monodisperse, size-controllable silica microspheres via hydrolysis and polymerization of TEOS at the interface of water-in-oil droplets. By altering the concentration of TEOS in oil phase and CTAB in aqueous phase, we achieved control over morphology of the microspheres from hollow, to partly hollow, to solid. The hollow silica microsphere can be used for rapid waste removal and detoxification extraction with a very simple procedure.