LAUSR

Abstract A series of fibrous silica core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated by using Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) as hard templates in a bicontinuous microemulsion system. Other than normal synthesis of fibrous silica, KOH was used instead of urea in the fabrication which was operated at lower temperature 40 °C without any cosolvent. Synthesized PBA@fibrous silica NPs could be easily oxidized to Co-Fe oxides@fibrous silica nanostructures. Furthermore, after acid etching process, corresponding hollow cubic silica nanoframes (HCSNF) with a fibrous morphology were finally achieved. Characterization results revealed that the size distribution of HCSNFs was 300 ± 46 nm. Each HCSNF had a novel hollow region. This low-temperature cosolvent-free fabrication provides a new idea for expanding efficient synthetic methods and morphology of fibrous silica shell.