Hard-template synthesis of hollow mesoporous silica nanoplates using layered double hydroxide

We report a facile approach for preparing hollow mesoporous silica nanoplates using layered double hydroxide (LDH). MgAl-LDH nanoplates with well-defined hexagonal morphology are synthesized with a basic amino acid (arginine) via a fast coprecipitation followed by controlled hydrothermal treatment. Such LDH nanoplates are used as a hard template to prepare novel hollow mesoporous silica nanoplates