Dopamine-induced silica–polydopamine hybrids with controllable morphology†
Abstract
Novel silica–polydopamine hybrids, with controllable morphology, are facilely fabricated in an emulsion system consisting of tetraethyl orthosilicate, dopamine, water, and NaOH under weakly basic conditions (pH 8.5–10). An increase in initial pH favors the formation of nano-structured spherical silica–PDA hybrids from a flocculated structure.