One-pot two-step synthesis of core-shell mesoporous silica-coated gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica (Au@mSiO(2)) have been prepared by a facile one-pot two-step method. The resultant Au@mSiO(2) exhibit an ideal core-shell structure with uniform mSiO(2) coverage and without any interfacial adhesive layer on the Au surface. Some new explanations on the role that CTAB plays in the synthesis of Au@mSiO(2) are discussed.