Block Copolymer P123 Research Articles

How Polyoxometalate Promote the Aggregation of a Cyanine Dye in the Aqueous Solution of Non-Ionic Copolymers of Varying Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance?

The nonradiative pathway leading to the photoisomerization of a cyanine dye is well-established information. However, the modulations induced in the photoisomerization pathway by a Keggin-type polyoxometalate in a confined media is new. Our study reveals that, in the presence of pluronic block copolymers F-108 and P-123, phosphomolybdic acid hydrate (PMA) promotes the aggregation of 3,3'-diethylthiadicarbocyanine iodide (DTDCI). The absorption spectra show a clear indication of a red-shifted trimer band in F-108 and P-123, whereas it is absent in F-127 and P-84. Fluorescence emission studies suggest that, in the presence of PMA, the rate of photoisomerization is accelerated in F-108, P-123, and P-84 micelles, whereas it is retarded in F-127 micelles. Time-resolved studies in the presence of PMA indicate the preference of F-108, P-84, and P-123 toward the trapped conformer of DTDCI, whereas F-127 favors the formation of photoisomer of DTDCI. Our findings imply the importance of the interplay between the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the DTDCI cations and the PMA anions in nonionic micelles of varying hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) data suggest a modulation by PMA in the intermicellar electrostatic repulsions of a hydrophilic copolymer micelle, whereas its unaffected in a hydrophobic copolymeric micelle.

Synthesis and Characterization of Core-Shell Mesoporous Iron oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles using Modified Co-Precipitation Method

In recent era, development of nanotechnology is an art of delivery of drug by improving its compatibility, effectiveness and efficacy. Among all nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles play a predominant role to shows their targeted drug delivery using a magnetic field, also helps to diagnose the diseases like cancer. The present study included preparation of four different mesoporous nanoparticles using the Pluronic block copolymer P123 as a surfactant template, then insert iron oxides using co-precipitation method. The resulted formed mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles are examined for structural characters by using FTIR, XRD, HRSEM and Elemental Mapping techniques. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the formed composites conserved ordered mesoporous structure after the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles in the pores. FTIR results indicated that the surface contains silanol group and Fe–O on the surface of the materials at 1060 cm-1 and 1020 cm-1 peaks respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that all mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles within the range of size from 50 to 100nm also possessed a regular spherical shape. These particles possessed high surface area, high pore volume and showed magnetic response sufficient for drug targeting in the presence of an external magnetic field. Elemental mapping data indicated about the percentage of all elements present in the mesoporous materials. We concluded that all four types of magnetic nanoparticles are structurally arranged in their structure with sufficient percentage of elements on their particle surface along with good size range. Further loading of drug into all types of magnetic nanoparticles decides the loading efficiency, stability and drug release nature.

Exceptional arsenic removal using novel mesoporous Mg-Al-Ti ternary composite oxide nanoparticles prepared via self-assembly templating method

Arsenic contamination of water through natural and anthropogenic activities is a grave problem today. One of the most efficient ways to remove arsenic from water is through adsorption. Porous nanomaterials show high adsorption capacities due to high surface area, and efficient mass transfer with plenty of active adsorption sites. Porous metal oxides have been successfully employed to remove arsenic from water previously. However, ternary metal oxide composites hold potential for novel adsorbent materials but have yet to be explored in depth. Mesoporous Mg-Al-Ti oxide composite oxide nanoparticles with varying compositions were synthesized via a low-cost, scalable, evaporation-induced self-assembly technique using P123 block copolymer as a soft template. All the compositions of synthesized ternary oxide nanoparticles exhibited exceptionally high arsenic adsorption capacities ranging from 543 to 1215 mg/g for As(V) and 359.6–919.4 mg/g for As(III) along with 96–98% removal of arsenic from real groundwater samples of up to 489.3 ppb. The composites show mesopores and high surface area ranging from 93-393.6 m2/g with very small particle size ranging from 8 to 12 nm. The nanoparticles have shown great selectivity towards arsenic and exceptional adsorption performance in a wide pH range. High volume-to-surface area ratio, an abundance of hydroxyl groups, interconnected mesoporous morphology, and high point of zero charge pH contribute to the high adsorption capacity of the composite oxides. Mesoporous Mg-Al-Ti ternary oxide composite nanoparticles have shown higher adsorption capacity towards arsenic than many existing adsorbent material materials and can be a very promising candidate for arsenic remediation from water.

Antireflection cum photocatalytic with superhydrophilic based durable single layer mesoporous TiO2 - ZrO2 coating surface for efficient solar photovoltaic application

The cover glass of the solar panel benefits greatly from the antireflection cum photocatalytic with durable superhydrophilic (SHF) coating on float glass, which is here referred to as solar cover glass (SCG). In this study, such coatings were coated as a single layer on SCG as a replacement for the glass that covers solar cells, and their performance was compared to that of the bare texture solar cover glass (TSCG) which available in market. Using the sol–gel dip-coating method, coatings were created from stable sol utilizing titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP), zirconium (IV) oxychloride octahydrate (ZOC), and block co-polymer P123 (surfactant), then dried at 80 °C/2 h and heated for at 400 °C/h. The coatings were deposited on glass with dimensions of 150 mm × 150 mm and had a thickness of 186 ± 10 nm. They had a refractive index value of 1.4295±0.002 and water contact angle (WCA) of 5 – 6°. These coatings were found to be homogeneous and had good adhesion and pencil hardness ∼4H. The coatings' hardness and elastic modulus were also measured using the nano-indentation method with an optimum 500 µN stress and were found to be 0.7909 ± 0.05 GPa and 37.59 ± 1 GPa, respectively. The formation of mesoporous coating as observed by ATR FT-IR and the genesis of the Ti-O-Zr network structure was confirmed by TEM, FESEM, AFM and Raman spectroscopy analysis. Coated glass showed an increase of > 3 % in average transmission in the wavelength range of 700 to 1100 nm due to a lower RI value than substrate along with chemical and thermal stability of the coatings. Moreover, upto 5% increase in photocurrent density Jsc (mA/cm2) was found as compared to uncoated glass substrate (SCG). Furthermore, the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV irradiation and analysis using Raman spectroscopy indicated the photocatalytic ability of the coatings. Its triple functional single layer coated float glass (SCG) is therefore anticipated to be helpful and effective as a replacement for TSCG for home to agricultural applications.

Effect of hydrophobic modification of block copolymers on the self-assembly, drug encapsulation and release behavior

In recent years, block copolymers together with their structure-property relationship in administrable drug delivery have attracted much concern. Three block copolymers BP123, BPF123 and H123 with the same PEO and PPO segments but different hydrophobic modification groups were synthesized. Commercial Pluronic block copolymers P123 was chosen for contrast. The effects of hydrophobic modification on the self-assembling behavior of the four copolymers were investigated via surface tension, transmission electron microscopy, steady state fluorescence and dynamic light scattering. With the enhancement of hydrophobicity, P123, BP123, BPF123 formed micelles and gradually decreased in critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) and size, while H123 formed vesicles. The dissolution and in vitro release capacities of the aggregates for the hydrophobic drug simvastatin were also evaluated. The stronger the hydrophobicity of copolymers, the stronger the drug solubilization ability for hydrophobic drug (H123 > BPF123 > BP123 > P123). Due to the enhancement of hydrophobicity, the tightly packed micelles formed by BP123 and BPF123, the drug release was slower. H123 had the highest solubility due to the closed bilayer vesicle structure and the interaction of hydrophobic groups with the drug, providing the slowest release rate. This study revealed that hydrophobic modification had a great impact on the self-assembly behavior of copolymers, modified copolymers can be applicable to sustained release drug carriers.

Ce/TiOx-functionalized catalytic ceramic membrane for hybrid catalytic ozonation-membrane filtration process: Fabrication, characterization and performance evaluation

A series of Ce/TiOx-functionalized catalytic ceramic membranes (CeTi-CeCCMs) were fabricated via citrate sol-gel assisted wet impregnation followed by acid-hydrolysed sol-gel dip coating method. The effect of Ce-dopant and block-copolymer P-123 on the formation of Ce-doped TiOx was investigated and optimized to fabricate a uniform Ce-doped TiOx layer with hierarchical porous structure. The modifications adopted for the CCM fabrication had a marginal effect on the clean water permeability, which is favourable towards the membrane filtration process. Meanwhile, the nanocatalysts located at the membrane outer surface and within the membrane substrate of CCM could significantly enhance the accessibility of the reactants to the catalytic sites. The as-fabricated CCMs were employed for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) degradation in the hybrid catalytic ozonation-membrane filtration process operating under continuous dead-end filtration mode. CeTi-CeCCM recorded a high DEET degradation and mineralization with efficient O3(aq) utilization of 1.4 g O3(aq) g−1 TOC removal. The CeTi-CeCCM also exhibited a high antifouling property in the hybrid process by retaining >92% of its initial permeability after 0.5-h operation with humic acid feed. The stability and robustness of the as-fabricated CCM were also tested with multiple filtration-cleaning cycles and using real water feed, respectively. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) quenching and radical detection experiments were conducted to determine the contribution of ROS (i.e. HO, O2− and 1O2) towards the catalytic activity. The degradation pathways of DEET were proposed and the ecotoxicity of its transformation products (TPs) was estimated. Finally, the mechanistic insights of the O3(aq) decomposition, organic pollutants degradation and mineralization by the CeTi-CeCCM were provided to address the synergistic effect of the membrane filtration and catalytic ozonation occurred in the hybrid process.

Preparation of a Sulfonic‐Acid‐Type Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Solid Acid via Hydrothermal Synthesis for the Transesterification of Waste Frying Oil

AbstractHydrothermal carbonisation was used to synthesise hydrothermally ordered mesoporous carbon (HOMC), employing sucrose as the carbon source, a P123 block copolymer as the surfactant and tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silicon source. A high‐density sulfonic‐acid‐based solid acid catalyst (HOMC‐SO3H) was subsequently prepared via low‐temperature sulfonation of the HOMC with concentrated sulfuric acid. Transmission electron microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray diffraction analyses showed that both the HOMC and HOMC‐SO3H exhibited an ordered mesoporous structure. The N2 Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface areas of the HOMC and HOMC‐SO3H were determined to be 112 and 87 m2/g, respectively, and the average pore sizes were 11.0 and 15.1 nm, respectively. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirmed that −SO3H groups were successfully introduced onto the HOMC surface by the sulfonation process, and a surface acid concentration of 5.9 mmol/g HOMC‐SO3H was determined by acid‐base titration. The HOMC‐SO3H was applied to the transesterification of waste frying oil with methanol and a fatty acid methyl ester yield of 95 % was obtained after a 5 h reaction at 180 °C.

The effect of hydrothermal temperature on the properties of SBA-15 materials

In present work, ordered mesoporous material SBA-15 was synthesized by using poly (alkylene oxide) block copolymer (Pluronic P123) as template and ethylsilicate as silica source in weak acid environment in a wide range of temperature. The focus of synthesis research was high hydrothermal temperature. The obtained products were characterized by various techniques, including XRD, N2 sorption isotherms, FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric. The effect of hydrothermal temperature on the specific surface area, pore volume and pore size of SBA-15 products was investigated systematically. As the hydrothermal temperature increases from the 100–120 °C, the specific surface area and the pore volume of the mesoporous molecular sieve increase greatly. When the hydrothermal temperature increase further, the pore volume of the mesoporous molecular sieve increase continually. But the specific surface area decrease significantly. When the hydrothermal temperature is too high (over 140 °C), the order degree begins to decrease, So the specific surface area and pore volume decrease significantly because the pores structure have significant destruction and collapse. Mechanism and structural characteristics of P123 block copolymer could explain in detail the effect of hydrothermal temperature on the property and structure of mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15.

Determination of drug loading efficiency of nano capsules formed by the O/W emulsification of block copolymer

The self-assembly nature of pluronic triblock copolymers have been exploited by materials scientists in the field of drug delivery. We have used Pluronic P123 block copolymer to load an antibiotic drug Amoxicillin and have analyzed the drug loading efficiency. The amphiphilic nature and micellization of Pluronic P123block copolymer was efficiently utilized and the morphology of drug loaded block copolymer is analyzed in detail and correlated with the loading efficiency. Moreover this study also focuses on the antimicrobial activities of the amoxicillin loaded Pluronic P123block copolymer. It is seen that the micelle serve as excellent payloads for the delivery of the most common drug amoxicillin.

A simple method for synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon

A series of ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) was synthesized via a simple method using a nonionic surfactant (block copolymer) P123 both as a structure–directing agent and as a carbon precursor at different carbonization temperatures (500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C, and 800 °C). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small–angle X–ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that OMC carbonized at 800 °C and 700 °C exhibited a highly ordered mesoporous structure, and the order of OMC decreased as the carbonization temperature decreased. N2–BET analysis showed that the OMCs had BET surface areas of 427–713 m2/g and average pore diameters of 3.1–3.3 nm. Moreover, the BET surface area declined with decreasing carbonization temperature. Raman and wide–angle XRD results indicated that OMCs synthesized under high carbonization temperature exhibited a higher degree of graphitization than those synthesized under low carbonization temperature.

Effect of swelling agent in the synthesis of porous nanocrystalline nickel-zirconia-ceria composite

Abstract Porous ceria-zirconia (Zr0·1Ce0·9O2−δ δ delete) powders were synthesized by a sol-gel route using inorganic chlorides (ZrCl4 and CeCl3·7H2O) as precursors, block copolymer P123 (PEO20PPO70PEO20) as the template and tri-isopropyl-benzene (TIPB) as the swelling agent. These porous materials show high surface area and gas permeability, important properties for Intermediate Temperature-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC) and catalytic applications. The samples were prepared with different P123:TIPB (w/w) % ratios (1:0, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4), as a strategy to increase porosity. The samples were calcined at 400 °C in air to remove the template. Post-synthesis nickel impregnation was planned to obtain 3 and 10 (w/w) % of NiO after calcination. The structure and morphology of the samples were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), nitrogen adsorption isotherms (NAI) and transmission and scanning electron microscopies (TEM and SEM). The resulting materials have high specific surface area (≈110 m2. g-1) and a wide pore size distribution of mesopores (3–50 nm). They are formed by nanocrystals (≈15 nm) of the predominant (≈90%) F m 3 ¯ m cubic phase and by the P 4 2 / n m c tetragonal phase. The micrographs revealed that the nanocrystalline oxides have mesopores with slit shape and a secondary smaller mesoporosity with a narrow size distribution (≈4 nm). An increase of micropore volume (sizes

The Formation of Macropores in a Bimodal Silica Synthesized on P123 Block Copolymer as a Template

The Formation of Macropores in a Bimodal Silica Synthesized on P123 Block Copolymer as a Template

Drug loading-release behaviour of mesoporous materials SBA-15 and CMK-3 using ibuprofen molecule as drug model

The well-ordered mesoporous silicate (SBA-15) was synthesized via soft-templating route using block copolymer P-123 as directing agent and tetraethoxysilane as the silica source. The ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) was synthesized via a hard casting route using SBA- 15 as nano-template and sucrose as carbon source. The character of mesoporous structure of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR and element analysis. The loading release performance using SBA-15 and CMK-3 was investigated by ibuprofen molecule as the drug model. The results illustrated a unique trend of impregnation phenomenon from both of SBA-15 and CMK-3 which was closely related to the mesoporous structure of the materials. When the mesoporous carbon SBA-15 and CMK-3 were loaded by ibuprofen molecule, the agglomeration of ibuprofen did not appear on the outer surface of carbon with the increase of ibuprofen concentration. Our results indicated that mesoporous structure could influence the phase transformation behavior of ibuprofen, which can effectively decrease the drug release time of drug in delivery system.

Encapsulation iron magnetic particles onto molecular sieve silica SBA-15 by the simple arc discharge method for ibuprofen adsorption

In this paper, molecular sieve silica SBA-15-encapsulated iron nanoparticles (Fe/SBA-15) have been synthesized by arc discharge method. Molecular sieve silica SBA-15 prepared by self-assembly route using block copolymer P123 as structure directing agent and tetraethoxysilane as the source of silica under acidic condition. The transformation of texture dan structure of Fe/SBA-15 sample after heat-treatment at 900 °C was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques, FTIR and VSM. The result shows that magnetic properties in Fe/SBA-15 sample have been observed by VSM as the impact of encapsulation process. The adsorption performance using Fe/SBA-15 sample was investigated by ibuprofen molecule as the drug model. The ibuprofen adsorption trend using reach the optimum equilibrium condition at 60 min which was closely related to the mesoporous structure of the materials. The most important of all, magnetic character of Fe/SBA-15 sample make detection of ibuprofen easier than mesoporous silica without magnetic character. It is can make Fe/SBA-15 sample be the new generation carrier material in drug delivery system in the future.

Magnetic mesoporous γ-Al2O3/ZnFe2O4 micro-bowls realizing enhanced adsorption, separation and recycle performance towards waste water

Magnetic mesoporous γ-Al2O3/ZnFe2O4 micro-bowls have been synthesized via a simple sol-gel route combining spray-drying technique, in which block copolymer P123 was used as the soft template and aluminum isopropoxide was aluminum source. This mesoporous γ-Al2O3/ZnFe2O4 composite possesses bowl-like structure, high specific surface area (316 m2 g−1), large pore volume (0.936 mL g−1), and fair magnetism (1.45 emu·g−1). As a demonstration, this γ-Al2O3/ZnFe2O4 composite was served to remove Congo Red (CR) from simulated dye stuffs wastewater. The maximum adsorption capacity of γ-Al2O3/ZnFe2O4 micro-bowls for CR was up to 413 mg g−1, which is much higher than most of the reported magnetic absents. The kinetic data related to the adsorption of CR match well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. And the CR adsorption isotherm can be evaluated using Langmuir model. Moreover, the magnetic micro-bowls could be simply separated and cyclic utilized from the waste water by magnetic attraction after adsorption.

Block copolymer-assisted synthesis of monodisperse colloidal patchy nanoparticles

Amphiphilic block copolymers are able to assemble into spherical micelles in an aqueous solution. Spherical micelles are expected to adsorb on the surface of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) through hydrogen-bonding interaction. Hence, it should be possible to guide the area-selective deposition of precursors onto the exposed surface of colloidal seeds, where no micelles are adsorbed. Using colloidal silica and polydopamine nanospheres as seeds, block copolymer F127 and P123 are used as surface modifiers to guide the controlled solution-phase deposition of precursors on a selectively exposed surface of seed NPs, leading to the formation of patchy NPs. Effects of the addition amount of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), types of block copolymers, and the volume fraction of miscible organic solvents on the size and morphology of patchy silica NPs are investigated systematically through electron microscopic imaging. Block copolymer micelles adsorption model for the formation of colloidal patchy NPs is first proposed. Our study suggests that the shape and size of patchy silica NPs are determined by the amount of TEOS and dielectric constant of solution.

Comicellization of Binary PEO–PPO–PEO Triblock Copolymer Mixtures in Ethylammonium Nitrate

The micellization of dilute solutions of Pluronic block copolymers P123 (EO20–PO70–EO20) and F127 (EO106–PO70–EO106) and comicellization of binary mixtures in partially deuterated ethylammonium nitrate (d3EAN, a protic ionic liquid) are studied by small-angle neutron scattering. The average Pluronics composition in micelles shows a linear dependence on the bulk Pluronic composition. The mole ratio between P123 molecules in the micelles to those existing as unimers in solvent increases with temperature and P123 concentration. At a fixed F127/P123 ratio, the micelle core radius, the micelle corona thickness, and the aggregation number decrease with increasing temperature, while the total micelle volume fraction increases. At a fixed temperature, increasing P123 content in the binary mixtures leads to a weak minimum in micelle core size and aggregation number and a weak maximum in micelle corona thickness and total volume fraction of micelles. The comicellization behavior in d3EAN resembles that in aqueous s...

Synthesis, Magneto-structural Properties and Colloidal Stability Studies of Ni0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 Nanoparticles Coated with Pluronic P123 Block Copolymer for Potential Biomedical Applications

Spinel Ni0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 (NZFO) magnetic nanoparticles was prepared by the low temperature auto-combustion method using a glycine fuel-rich composition without any further heat treatment at high temperature. Subsequently, the synthesized MNPs were coated with Pluronic P123 (PP123) after its surface was functionalized with oleic acid (OA). The effect of the coatings on the morphology, structural and magnetic properties of NZFO nanoparticles was studied using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The colloidal behaviour of coated MNPs in physiological saline medium like water or phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was also studied by zeta potential measurements. XRD results showed the formation of cubic spinel crystalline phase with and without OA–PP123 coatings. Also, after OA–PP123 coating, the crystallite size (from Scherrer formula) decreases from 55 to 53 nm. However, an enlargement in the particle size and a reduction in agglomeration were observed from FE-SEM results when the nanoparticles were coated with OA–PP123. VSM measurements showed ferromagnetic behaviour at room temperature before and after coating. The colloidal stability study of the coated sample revealed a considerable high zeta potential value at physiological pH (7.4) highlighting its potential biomedical applications.

Synthesis and lithium storage performance of ZnFe2O4/C composites with the assistance of P123

ABSTRACTTo improve the lithium storage performance of ZnFe2O4 as anode material for LIBs, ZnFe2O4/C composites were prepared by using a homogeneous precipitation method with the assistant of block copolymer P123, followed by annealing in argon atmosphere at 900°C. The series of ZnFe2O4/C samples prepared with P123 additive quantity of 0 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 8 wt.% and 10 wt.% (denoted as ZFO, ZFO/C-2%, ZFO/C-5%, ZFO/C-8% and ZFO/C-10%, respectively) were analyzed by physical characterizations and electrochemical characterizations. The results reveal that ZFO and ZFO/C-2% shares relatively smaller particles among the five samples. The surface of ZFO/C-2% has some obvious small pores, which can improve the infiltration of electrolyte and shorten the diffusion path of lithium ion. Compared with the pure ZFO, ZFO/C-2% exhibits much higher electrochemical activity, better rate performance, much improved cycling stability. After 50 charge/discharge cycles under a current density of 120 mA g−1, ZFO/C-2% electrode can retain a specific discharge capacity of 578 mAh g−1, much higher than that (433 mAh g−1) of ZFO. However, excessive adding P123 (ZFO/C-5%, ZFO/C-8% and ZFO/C-10%) during synthesis process induces an obvious agglomeration of particles, leading to significantly inferior lithium storage performance of ZnFe2O4.

Rational design and synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 for high-performance ammonia sensor

Herein, we report novel ammonia gas sensor materials having aldehyde functional groups grafted onto the pore surface of highly ordered mesoporous materials SBA-15. The functional SBA-15 was synthesized via co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate and formylsilanetriol using an amphiphilic block copolymer P123 as a structure-directing agent, in which formylsilanetriol was first synthesized through the reduction of 2-cyanoethyltriethoxysilane in the presence of diisobutylaluminium hydride. Structural and textural characterizations by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption porosimetry were conducted and the results show the materials having well-defined mesoporous long-range ordering with pore size of 6.2nm. Furthermore, FT-IR and solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies proved covalent anchoring of the aldehyde functional group onto the pore walls of SBA-15. The results indicated that the materials successfully kept their mesoporous nature after grafting of the aldehyde groups. Gas-sensing tests were investigated by coating the aldehyde-functionalized SBA-15 onto quartz crystal microbalance transducers. The results reveal that the sensors can be as promising candidates as ammonia detectors with desirable sensing behaviors, including high sensitivity (the frequency shift was 22Hz at 1ppm and the QCM sensors were exposed to nitrogen stream until a stable baseline (±2Hzmin−1)), fast response (response time within 11s, recovery time within 13s) and good reversibility.