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

Gold nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica (Au@mSiO2) have been prepared by a facile one-pot two-step method. The resultant Au@mSiO2 exhibit an ideal core-shell structure with uniform mSiO2 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@mSiO2 are discussed.