Reference #: 00768
Invention Description:
This invention is a method for creating a hollow structure following a "self-rising" approach, which is virtually a modified evaporation-induced self-assembly method.
Development/Demonstration / Validation:
This method was applied to cobalt oxide showed high crystallization. SEM imaging indicated sphere formation with 5 µm layers composed of spheres with diameters of 1 µm. TEM analysis has shown porous hollow spheres with very thin shells, some with intact or broken sphere morphology. High magnitude TEM exhibited small particles around 10nm that self-assembled into shell structures with worm-type pores.
Potential Applications:
This method is used to create hollow metal oxides (HMOs) and has potential for synthesization of other hollow materials such as hollow carbon. Materials with hollow structures are used in photocatalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, gas sensors, drug delivery, and nanospheres for adsorption.
Advantages and Benefits:
Though the templating approach for synthesis of hollow structures has been successful, it is limited by its requirement of "hard templates." This requirement has complicated preparation sequences and, as a result, created significant expense for production on a large scale. The current technology requires no hard template and is much more versatile in its application potential.