Patent ID: 8334013
Filing Date: 2012-12-18
Classification: C01B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a monodisperse population of mesoporous metal oxide particles comprising: providing a microfluidic device comprising one central and two side channels, a point of convergence between the three inlet channels and an outlet channel extending away from the point of convergence; hydrolyzing 5.2 g of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS, Purum >98%) in 3 g of ethanol (99.7%), and 2.7 g of 0.01 N hydrochloric acid (pH=2) under vigorous stirring at room temperature for 30 min to form a sol-dispersed aqueous phase; delivering the sol-dispersed aqueous phase to the central inlet channel in the microfluidic device; delivering an oil continuous phase to the two side inlet channels in the microfluidic device; allowing the aqueous phase and oil continuous phase to emulsify at the junction and form droplets within the microfluidic device; collecting the droplets; allowing the droplets to polymerize, thereby forming particles; separating the particles from the oil; and removing the templating molecule to form a monodisperse population of mesoporous metal oxide beads.