Enhanced Stabilization of Vesicles by Compressed CO<sub>2</sub> Wei Li Jianling Zhang Siqing Cheng Buxing Han Chaoxing Zhang Xiaoying Feng Yueju Zhao 10.1021/la8031545.s001 https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Enhanced_Stabilization_of_Vesicles_by_Compressed_CO_sub_2_sub_/2887774 In this work, we studied the effect of compressed CO<sub>2</sub> on the stability of vesicles formed in a dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) mixed surfactant system by combination of phase behavior and turbidity study, and UV−vis and fluorescence techniques. It was discovered that compressed CO<sub>2</sub> could enhance the stability of vesicles significantly. This new and effective method to stabilize vesicles has some unique advantages over conventional methods. For example, the size and stability of the vesicles can be easily controlled by CO<sub>2</sub> pressure; the method is greener because CO<sub>2</sub> is a green reagent and it can be released completely after depressurization, which simplifies postseparation processes in applications. The main reason for CO<sub>2</sub> to stabilize the vesicles is that CO<sub>2</sub> molecules can insert into the hydrophobic bilayer region to enhance the rigidity of the vesicle film and reduce the size of the vesicles, which is different from that of conventional cosolvents (e.g., alcohols) used to stabilize vesicles. On the basis of this discovery, we developed a method to prepare hollow silica spheres using tetraethoxysilane as the precursor and CO<sub>2</sub>-stabilized vesicles as the template, in which CO<sub>2</sub> acts as both the stabilizer of the vesicular template and the catalyst for the hydrolysis reaction of the precursor, and other cosolvents and catalysts are not required. Besides, the size of the silica hollow spheres prepared can be controlled by the pressure of CO<sub>2</sub>. 2009-01-06 00:00:00 UV CO 2 molecules DTAB CO 2 pressure method vesicle CO 2 acts CO 2 SDS Compressed CO 2In