Ultra-large-pore SBA-15 (ULP-SBA-15) silicas with two-dimensional hexagonal structure of cylindrical mesopores are achievable by surfactant-templated synthesis with micelle swelling agents selected on the basis of the extent of solubilization in surfactant micelles. 1,3,5-Triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) was judiciously selected as a swelling agent for Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer surfactant, affording pore sizes that increase from 12 to 26 nm as the initial synthesis temperature decreases from 20 to 12 oC. However, the increase in the pore size close to 26 nm results in a decreased periodicity, as inferred from small-angle X-ray scattering. Our recent work showed that the increase in the relative amount of the silica precursor affords enlarged pore diameter and results in more ordered ULP-SBA-15. While our typical synthesis of ULP-SBA-15 involves ammonium fluoride (NH4F) as a silica condensation catalyst, the lack of it in the synthesis mixture results in somewhat larger mesopores with significant degree of structural ordering.

Improvement of ordering of ultralarge-pore SBA-15 silica with 2D hexagonal structure

244th National Meeting (2012)

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