Synthesis of Chemically Asymmetric Silica Nanobottles and Their Application for Cargo Loading and as Nanoreactors and Nanomotors

Abstract

We report the synthesis of chemically asymmetric silica nanobottles (NBs) with a hydrophobic exterior surface (capped with 3-chloropropyl groups) and a hydrophilic interior surface for spatially selective cargo loading, and for application as nanoreactors and nanomotors. The silica NBs, which have a “flask bottle” shape with an average diameter of 350 nm and an opening of ca. 100 nm, are prepared by anisotropic sol–gel growth in a water/n-pentanol emulsion. Due to their chemically asymmetric properties, nanoparticles (NPs) with hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface properties can be selectively loaded inside the NBs or on the outside of the NBs, respectively. A high-performance nanomotor is con..