Synthesis of elastic macrospheres of silica-surfactant nanocomposites

Centimeter sized macrospheres of silica-surfactant nanocomposites were synt hesized from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and the neutral triblock copol ymer Pluronic P123 (EO20PO70EO20) or cationic quaternary ammonium surfactan ts as organic templates under acidic conditions (pH < 1), The organic-inorg anic hybrid macrosphere is crack-free and possesses high elasticity. The de termining factors in the formation of macrospheres include the chemical com position (i.e. TEOS content and surfactant compositions) and the shear rate in the synthetic solution. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.