Synthesis and characterization of silica core-shell nanoparticles

COLL 238

Jorge L. Chavez, Aleksa Jovanovic, Thomas Joncheray, and Randolph S. Duran. Butler Polymer Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 36211
Silica core-shell nanocapsules were synthesized and characterized by Quasi-elastic Light Scattering (QELS) and surface tension methods. In particular, we investigated the oil-in-water microemulsion precursor of these nanocapsules. The effect of different surfactants and oil concentrations on properties such as the stability and surface tension of the precursor were examined. Changes in geometry and efficiency of the templating process were evaluated by QELS. Critical micelle concentrations of different formulations were measured and the molar compositions of the oil/surfactant interfaces were determined. The concentration of polymerizable surfactant was varied to determine the optimum composition required for producing microemulsions of different sizes.