Corrugated and nanoporous microstructures and nanostructures, and methods for synthesizing the same
AssigneeSyracuse University
InventorsTewodros Asefa, Yan-Li Shi
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Abstract
A method of synthesizing corrugated and nanoporous microspheres including the steps of synthesizing substantially smooth spherical microspheres, and controlled wet-etching of the substantially smooth spherical microspheres with a basic solution having a pH above 10.00 is provided. The microspheres can include, for example, silica microspheres or titania microspheres of various sized diameters of between 50 nm and 600 nm. The basic solution can include an aqueous potassium cyanide solution or an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. Methods of using the corrugated and nanoporous microspheres described herein are also provided.
Claims17
A method of synthesizing corrugated and nanoporous silica microspheres comprising the steps of:
- a. synthesizing a plurality of silica microspheres consisting of silica;
- and
- b. wet-etching the surface of each of said plurality of said silica microspheres with an etchant comprising a basic solution having a pH above 10.00, wherein said basic solution comprises a solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous potassium cyanide solution and an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution, and wherein said step of wet-etching comprises contacting the surface of each of said plurality of said silica microspheres with said etchant under conditions sufficient to produce silica microspheres having corrugated and nanoporous surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.