Acoustic Cavitation Leading to the Morphosynthesis of Mesoporous Silica Vesicles

Abstract

Mesoporous silica vesicles have been prepared by an ultrasound-mediated supramolecular templating technique using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the surfactant. Cooperative assembly of the surfactant and silicate species near the air–water interface of the cavitating bubbles results in a vesicular morphology. The vesicles are thermally stable, possessing wormhole-like mesopores and a high surface area.