Highly porous organic nanoparticles formed from supercritical carbon dioxide mediated sol-emulsion-gel method

Abstract

Highly porous organic nanoparticles have been prepared by adapting a novel method, sol-emulsion-gel process, through stable dispersion of nanometer-scaled emulsion droplets into continuous phase of supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2), sol-gel chemistry in emulsion droplets, and then supercritical drying. This principle offers faithful preparation of nanoparticles (35-90 nm in diameter) having pores of 1-3 nm in radius and high specific surface area (over 2000 m2/g).