The Formation of Periodicity within the Pore Walls of Mesoporous Organosilica by Post-Synthesis Treatment

Abstract

Abstract The molecular scale periodicity within the pore walls of amorphous mesoporous phenylene-silicas, derived using triblock copolymers under acidic conditions, was generated by the post-synthesis treatment with alkaline solution. Usually, acid conditions are not favorable for the formation of periodic arrangement of phenylene-silica moieties. The treatment with alkaline solution at 363–373 K facilitated the restructuring of phenylene-silica moieties and resulted in the formation of periodic structure within the pore walls. The treatment also enlarged the pore size of mesoporous phenylene-silica from 5.4 to 12.4 nm. Such a material with large pore size and molecular periodicity should have several advantages in potential applications, particularly in the catalysis for relatively large molecules.