In a mixed solvent of water and ethanol, polystyrene/titanium dioxide (PSt/TiO2) composite particles of core-shell structure were prepared by hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in the presence of cationic PSt particles or anionic PSt particles surface-treated using γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane. Hollow TiO2 particles were obtained through calcination of the PSt/TiO2 core-shell particles to burn ...

The preparation of luminescent silver hollow spheres using Eu(III) compound based on trifluorothenoylacetone is described. The structure and size of silver hollow spheres were determined by TEM images. The result shows the formation of hollow structure and average size of the silver hollow spheres (0.9 lm). The silver hollow spheres were further characterized by UV absorption spectrum, SNOM and...

We present a simple and effective heterogeneous contraction method to fabricate hollow spheres with controllable interior structures (ranging from solid, simple hollow to core-in-hollow-wall, double-wall hollow and core-in-double-hollow-wall spheres) by a non-equilibrium heat-treatment process of gel precursors with a high heating rate.

Inorganic hollow spheres have attracted considerable interest due to their singular properties and wide range of potential applications. In this critical review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the preparation and applications of inorganic hollow spheres. We first discuss the syntheses of inorganic hollow spheres by use of polymers, inorganic nonmetals, metal-based hard templates, small-...

Uniform gadolinium oxysulfate (Gd2O2SO4) hollow spheres were successfully fabricated by calcination of corresponding Gd-organic precursor obtained via a facile hydrothermal process. The Gd2O2SO4 hollow spheres have a mean diameter of approximately 550 nm and shell thickness in the range of 30-70 nm. The sizes and morphologies of as-prepared Gd2O2SO4 hollow spheres could be deliberately controll...

A wide variety of nanoscale hollow spheres can be obtained via a microemulsion approach. This includes oxides (e.g., ZnO, TiO₂, SnO₂, AlO(OH), La(OH)₃), sulfides (e.g., Cu₂S, CuS) as well as elemental metals (e.g., Ag, Au). All hollow spheres are realized with outer diameters of 10-60 nm, an inner cavity size of 2-30 nm and a wall thickness of 2-15 nm. The microemulsion approach allows modifica...

Currently, Degussa P25, with the typical mixed phases of anatase and rutile TiO2, is widely applied as the commercial photocatalysts. However, there are still some of obstacles for the P25 nanoparticles with totally high photocatalytic activities, especially for the catalytic stability due to their inevitable aggregation of the nanoparticles when used as the photocatalysts. In the present work,...

We present a general strategy to synthesize uniform MnCo2O4 submicrospheres with various hollow structures. By using MnCo-glycolate submicrospheres as the precursor with proper manipulation of ramping rates during the heating process, we have fabricated hollow MnCo2O4 submicrospheres with multilevel interiors, including mesoporous spheres, hollow spheres, yolk-shell spheres, shell-in-shell sphe...

Copper oxide nanoparticles within hollow mesoporous silica spheres were prepared by binding/adsorbing Cu2+ or [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ ions on the surface of carbon spheres, followed by formation of a mesoporous silica shell by sol-gel processing and calcination in air. The CuO nanoparticles can subsequently be converted into Cu3N nanoparticles by nitridation with ammonia. The effect of the different...