Hollow nanoparticles with hybrid double layers

A method of forming amphiphilic nanoparticles having a bilayer comprising a hydrophilic, ceramic-containing outer layer and a hydrophobic, carbon-containing inner layer surrounding a hollow core, and iron oxide nanoparticles located within the bilayer and/or hollow core, comprising the steps of:

• a) atomizing a solution comprising a ceramic precursor, a carbon precursor comprising a saccharide, a metal salt, and a templating surfactant into aerosol droplets, wherein the metal salt comprises an iron salt;
• b) heating the aerosol droplets to form particles comprising a hydrophilic, ceramic-containing outer layer derived from the ceramic precursor and a core containing the carbon precursor and the templating surfactant, wherein the metal salt is located within the shell and/or the core;
• and
• c) pyrolyzing the particles, thereby generating internal pressure, which pushes the carbon precursor to the inner surface of the hydrophilic, ceramic-containing outer layer to form a hydrophobic, carbon-containing inner layer derived from the carbon precursor, a hollow core, and metal oxide nanoparticles derived from the metal salt, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles comprise iron oxide and are located within the hydrophilic, ceramic-containing outer layer, the hydrophobic, carbon-containing inner layer, and/or hollow core,
• thereby forming the amphiphilic nanoparticles having a bilayer comprising a hydrophilic ceramic-containing outer layer and a hydrophobic carbon-containing inner layer surrounding a hollow core, and iron oxide nanoparticles located within the bilayer and/or hollow core, wherein the hydrophilic, ceramic-containing outer layer is in the form of a non-mesoporous dense, low-porosity shell.