06-P-13 - Preparation and characterization of mesoporous silica spheres

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the preparation and characterization of mesoporous silica spheres. The effect of different variables in the preparation of mesoporous silica spheres has been investigated through a two-phase method that requires tetrabutoxy silane as silica source, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride as surfactant, and water as solvent. The materials synthesized show regular pores with sizes around 2.0 nm, BET surface areas larger than 1000 m2/g, and a narrow spherical particle size distribution. These textural properties are achieved through the surfactant removal by a mild calcination procedure or else the porous structure is partially destroyed. The size of the silica spheres so obtained can be controlled in the range 300–700 pm through different variables, mainly by varying the stirring speed of the two-phase solution.