A simple and effective method for synthesizing silica hollow spheres is presented. The synthesis utilizes vesicles from oppositely charged surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPAB) aqueous solution as template for the silica growth. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is added to the vesicular template as a precursor for the silica formation. Ultrasound was employed to accelerate the formation of vesicles template. The morphology of the silica spheres is uniform and well-defined (diameter: 200 nm-5 mu m, wall thickness: 50 nm). The product was also characterized by FTIR, TG-DTA, N-2 adsorption. TEM images reveal that the spheres have structure stability after calcinations at 550 degrees C. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.