Double direct templating of periodically nanostructured ZnS hollow microspheres.

We introduce a "double direct templating" method for obtaining hollow microspheres with periodically nanostructured walls. Silica or polystyrene colloids are dispersed in a self-assembled hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystal containing precursors for ZnS. The semiconductor ZnS mineralizes on the surface of the colloid, expressing a pore morphology that is a copy of the structure of the liquid crystal. After etching of the sacrificial colloids, hollow capsules with templated and uniform mesoporous shells are obtained.