LAUSR

Flake-type micro hollow silica was synthesized by precipitation method using an Mg(OH)2 inorganic template and sodium silicate and ammonium sulfate as the silica precursors. We investigated the effects of the silica precursor concentration on the shape, shell thickness, and surface of the hollow silica. When the concentration of the silica precursor was 0.5 M, the hollow silica had a smooth and translucent thin shell, but the shell was broken. On the other hand, the shell thickness of the hollow silica changed in the range of 12 nm to 18 nm with the increase of the precursor concentration from 0.7 M to 1.1 M. Simultaneously, unintended spherical silica satellites were created on the shell surface. The number of satellites and the size rose according to the increased concentration of silica precursor. The reason for the formation of spherical silica satellites is that the NH4OH nucleus generated in the synthesis of hollow silica acted as another silica reaction site.