Fabrication and analytical applications of hybrid mesoporous membranes.

Recently, a hybrid mesoporous membrane composed of surfactant-templated mesoporous silica inside a porous anodic alumina membrane has been developed. Since this membrane allows the use of columnar silica-mesopores (silica-nanochannels) as nanofluidic channels, separation of molecules can be realized by mass transport through the silica-nanochannel with molecular dimensions. Here, we review the methods to fabricate the hybrid mesoporous membranes, their structural features, and the analytical applications of hybrid mesoporous membranes.     

A "teardown" method to create large mesotunnels on the pore walls of ordered mesoporous silica

A "teardown" method to create large mesotunnels (approximately 9 nm) on the pore walls of ordered mesoporous silicas is demonstrated by digesting the organic constituents from polymer-silicate nanocomposites. The ordered mesostructured polymer-silicate composites were first obtained via the evaporation-induced triconstituent co-assembly method by using a low-molecular-weight phenolic resin (resols) as an organic precursor; prehydrolyzed TEOS as an inorganic precursor, and triblock copolymer F127 as a template. All of organic components including F127 and phenolic resins are removed by the microwave digestion (MWD) method from mesostructured polymer-silica composites. While the removal of triblock copolymer F127 generates main pore channels, the phenolic resins can also be torn down from the pore walls, yielding mesotunnels between the channels. The resulting silica products exhibit ordered 2-D hexagonal mesostructure, large pore volume (up to 1.92 cm(3)/g), and very large pore size (up to 22.9 nm), which is even larger than their mesostructural cell parameter (14.2 nm). TEM images confirm the existence of mesotunnels on the silica pore walls. FT-IR and (29)Si solid-state NMR results reveal that these silica products have a large number of silanol groups.     

功能化有序介孔二氧化硅材料在分析样品前处理中的应用

功能化有序介孔二氧化硅材料具有均一可调的介孔孔径、规则的孔道、稳定的骨架结构、易于修饰的内表面和较高的比表面积、高的吸附容量等特性,可用于生物、医药、环境样品等复杂基体中痕量分析物的高选择性分离与富集,因此在样品前处理中的应用特别引人瞩目。文中简要介绍了功能化有序介孔二氧化硅材料的制备方法,综述了功能化有序介孔二氧化硅材料在分离富集金属离子、有机污染物以及生物大分子样品前处理中的应用进展。     

Post-treatment and characterization of novel luminescent hybrid bimodal mesoporous silicas

A novel luminescent hybrid bimodal mesoporous silicas (LHBMS) were synthesized via grafting 1,8-Naphthalic anhydride into the pore channels of bimodal mesoporous silicas (BMMs) for the first time. The resulting samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption/desorption measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The results show that 1,8-Naphthalic anhydride organic groups have been successfully introduced into the mesopores of the BMMs and the hybrid silicas are of bimodal mesoporous structure with the ordered small mesopores of around 3 nm and the large mesopores of uniform intra-nanoparticle. The excellent photoluminescent performance of LHBMS has a blue shift compared to that of 2-[3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl-1 H-Benz [de]isoquinoline-1, 3(2 H)-dione, suggesting the existence of the quantum confinement effectiveness.     

Organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous silicas: functionalization, pore size, and morphology control

Topological design of mesoporous silica materials, pore architecture, pore size, and morphology are currently major issues in areas such as catalytic conversion of bulky molecules, adsorption, host-guest chemistry, etc. In this sense, we discuss the pore size-controlled mesostructure, framework functionalization, and morphology control of organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous silicas by which we can improve the applicability of mesoporous materials. First, we explain that the sizes of hexagonal- and cubic-type pores in organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous silicas are well controlled from 24.3 to 98.0 A by the direct micelle-control method using an organosilica precursor and surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths or triblock copolymers as templates and swelling agents incorporated in the formed micelles. Second, we describe that organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous materials with various functional groups form various external morphologies such as rod, cauliflower, film, rope, spheroid, monolith, and fiber shapes. Third, we discuss that transition metals (Ti and Ru) and rare-earth ions (Eu(3+) and Tb(3+)) are used to modify organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous silica materials. Such hybrid mesoporous silica materials are expected to be applied as excellent catalysts for organic reactions, photocatalysis, optical devices, etc.     

Fabrication of different silica nanotubes and examination of their catalytic activity in organic solvents

Silica nanotubes (SNTs) with different geometrical architectures and comparable pore sizes were fabricated inside the one-dimensional (1D) channels of anodic alumina membrane (AAM) using different nonionic Brij template surfactants. Experimental results revealed the formation of SNTs with ordered 1D, two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and wormlike mesostructures. Cytochrome C (Cyt C) was chosen as a hemoprotein to be immobilized inside the SNTs. Under the same starting Cyt C concentration, the amount immobilized was found to be dependent on the SNT mesostructure. Unlike native Cyt C, which lost its activity while interacting in organic solvents, Cyt C entrapped within silica nanotube hybrid membrane (SNM) showed remarkable catalytic conversion activity in organic solvents, with wormlike mesostructure being favorable over ordered mesostructures. This could be ascribed to facile access to active centers of Cyt C due to the random orientations of wormlike SNTs.     

Designs for size-exclusion separation of macromolecules by densely-engineered mesofilters

This critical review reports on the up-to-date development designs of mesofilters for molecular sieving of macromolecules. Tight mesoporous silica nanotubes (NTs) provide a promising candidate as a filter for the size-exclusion separation of large quantities of macromolecules within a short period. First, we focus on the formation of the mesoporous structures inside anodic alumina membrane (AAM) using nanolinker approaches. Second, we discuss the systematic design of the robust mesofilters based on densely-engineered mesopores of silica NTs, which are vertically aligned with the open surfaces of top-bottom ends inside the AAM. Third, we present the bench-top filtration method as a powerful tool for the size-exclusion separation of macromolecules. Significantly, the evaluation of the intrinsic properties of mesofilters (e.g., diffusivity, separation efficiency, long-term stability, and reusability) compared them with commercial, mature membranes used for separation of macromolecules.     

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes using immobilized chiral BINOL–Ti complex on ordered mesoporous silicas

A chiral (S)-BINOL ligand has been covalently grafted on ordered mesoporous silicas—MCM-41 and SBA-15 and the resulting inorganic–organic hybrid materials used as chiral auxiliaries in Ti-promoted enantioselective addition of diethyl zinc to aldehydes under heterogeneous conditions. These heterogeneous catalysts showed promising activity and enantioselectivity. The catalyst having a larger pore diameter with capping of free silanol moiety with trimethylsilyl (TMS) group was found to be more active with enantioselectivities up to 81% being achieved. The catalyst worked well up to three cycles with retention of enantioselectivity after washing with 10% HCl in methanol.     

Biodegradable Oxamide‐Phenylene‐Based Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles with Unprecedented Drug Payloads for Delivery in Cells

We describe biodegradable mesoporous hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) in the presence of proteins and their applications for drug delivery. We synthesized oxamide phenylene‐based mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MON) in the absence of a silica source which had remarkably high organic content and high surface areas. Oxamide functions provided biodegradability in the presence of trypsin model proteins. MON displayed exceptionally high payloads of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs (up to 84 wt %), and a unique zero premature leakage without the pore capping, unlike mesoporous silica. MON were biocompatible and internalized into cancer cells for drug delivery.     

双模板法制备介孔／大孔复合孔结构硅胶独石

采用双模板法,向正硅酸甲酯的水解体系中同时引入聚乙二醇和三嵌段共聚物,成功制备出具有双连续大孔、同时孔壁中分布着有序介孔的复合孔结构硅胶独石材料. 产物的比表面积高达880 m2/g, 大孔孔径为0.2～5 μm, 介孔高度集中地分布在 5 nm. 结合物理吸附、扫描电镜、粉末X射线衍射和透射电镜等表征手段,发现合成条件如原料组成、反应温度和pH值等对反应体系中凝胶化转变和相分离发生的相对速度有重要影响,进而影响产物复合孔结构的生成. 此外,通过对合成条件的优化,一方面增强了无机骨架的强度,另一方面降低了湿凝胶干燥过程中的毛细管压力降,有效缓和了凝胶结构在干燥过程中的开裂和变形,使复合孔结构硅胶独石在厘米尺度内具有良好的整体性能.     

Structural Control of Mesoporous 1,4-Phenylene-silica Using the Mixture of CTAB/SDS

The morphology, pore architecture and crystallinity of the mesoporous 1,4‐phenylene‐silicas were controlled using the mixtures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). When the SDS/CTAB molar ratio increased from 0 to 1.0, the morphology of the mesoporous 1,4‐phenylene‐silicas changed in a sequence of sphere, hexagonal short rod, worm‐like, bent flake and flower‐like structure; the pore architecture of them changed from a hexagonal arranged tubular structure to a lamellar one; and the organization of the smallest repeat units within the wall changed from a random structure to a crystalline structure. At the SDS/CTAB molar ratios of 0.3 and 0.5, 1,4‐phenylene‐silica nanofibers with lamellar mesopores outside and tubular pore channels inside were obtained. The lamellar mesopores should be formed by merging the rod‐like micelles during the reaction process.     

MCM-48-like large mesoporous silicas with tailored pore structure: facile synthesis domain in a ternary triblock copolymer-butanol-water system

Assembly of mesostructured silica using Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer (EO(20)-PO(70)-EO(20)) and n-butanol mixture is a facile synthesis route to the MCM-48-like ordered large mesoporous silicas with the cubic Iad mesostructure. The cubic phase domain is remarkably extended by controlling the amounts of butanol and silica source correspondingly. The extended phase domain allows synthesis of the mesoporous silicas with various structural characteristics. Characterization by powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy reveals that the cubic Iad materials possess high specific surface areas, high pore volumes, and readily tunable pore diameters in narrow distribution of sizes ranging from 4 to 12 nm. Moreover, generation of complementary pores between the two chiral channels in the gyroid Iad structure can be controlled systematically depending on synthesis conditions. Carbon replicas, using sucrose as the carbon precursor, are obtained with either the same Iad structure or I4(1)/a (or lower symmetry), depending on the controlled synthesis conditions for silica. Thus, the present discovery of the extended phase domain leads to facile synthesis of the cubic Iad silica with precise structure control, offering vast prospects for future applications of large-pore silica materials with three-dimensional pore interconnectivity.     

银掺杂介孔氧化铝抗菌剂的一步合成与表征

以Al(NO_3)_3·9H_2O和AgNO_3为原料,采用水热法制备了介孔氧化铝纳米粒子(Mesoporous Al_2O_3NPs)和银掺杂介孔氧化铝纳米粒子(Mesoporous Ag/Al_2O_3NPs),通过X射线衍射(XRD)、场发射扫描电子显微镜(FE-SEM)、X射线荧光光谱(XRF)、能量分散X射线衍射(EDX)和低温N2吸附-脱附等手段对产物进行了表征,通过最低抑菌浓度和抑菌圈实验研究了材料的抗菌性能.XRD分析表明在介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs中Al_2O_3是唯一结晶相,Ag掺杂后,介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs晶格常数和半高峰宽增大,晶面间距[(111),(400)和(440)面]减小.FE-SEM形貌分析表明掺杂后的介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs颗粒直径减小而孔径增大.EDX和XRF分析表明介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs中O/Al摩尔比为1.5,与Al_2O_3NPs中O/Al摩尔比相同.综合XRD和XRF分析结果认为,Ag进入介孔Al_2O_3晶格间隙形成间隙固溶体.低温N2吸附-脱附分析表明掺杂后的介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs比表面积、孔体积和孔径增大.曝气抗菌实验结果表明介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs的抗菌机理是活性氧和金属银的协同作用.介孔Ag/Al_2O_3NPs对革兰氏阴性菌(大肠杆菌)和革兰氏阳性菌(金黄色葡萄球菌)具有明显的抗菌效果,对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)均为80μg/m L,抑菌圈直径分别为26 mm和24 mm.     

Nanoporous silica films containing aluminum and titanium

By utilizing surfactant aggregates as supramolecular templates, mesoporous and mesostructured silicas with highly ordered structures became available. The resulting mesoporous silicas are promising candidates to host various photo- and electro-active species along with catalytically active species, due to their large and controllable pore sizes, highly ordered pore arrangements with low dimensional geometries, and reactive surfaces. We have developed the rapid solvent evaporation method, which is a modified sol-gel process, for synthesizing the mesostructured silica-surfactant films as well as the mesoporous silica films. Supported thin films, self-standing films and bubbles of mesoporous silicas have been synthesized by the rapid solvent evaporation method. The microstructures of the films have also been successfully controlled by changing the synthetic conditions. Taking advantage of the ease of synthetic operation and the transparency and homogeneity of the resulting materials, we have been interested in the introduction of functional units into the mesostructured materials. This paper reports the synthesis of transparent films of titanium- and aluminum-containing nanoporous silicas to modify the surface properties (such as adsorptive and catalytic) of nanoporous silicas. The incorporation of Al led to the formation of cation exchange or acidic sites on the mesopore surface, as revealed by the cationic dye adsorption experiments. The photocatalytic reactions of the Ti-containing nanoporous silica films were also examined.     

Size-selective separations of biological macromolecules on mesocylinder silica arrays

In order to control the design functionality of mesocylinder filters for molecular sieving of proteins, we fabricated tight mesocylinder silica nanotube (NT) arrays as promising filter candidates for size-exclusion separation of high-concentration macromolecules, such as insulin (INS), α-amylase (AMY), β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), and myosin (MYO) proteins. In this study, hexagonal mesocylinder structures were fabricated successfully inside anodic alumina membrane (AAM) nanochannels using a variety of cationic and nonionic surfactants as templates. The systematic design of the nanofilters was based on densely patterned polar silane coupling agents ("linkers") onto the AAM nanochannels, leading to the fabrication of mesocylinder silica arrays with vertical alignment and open surfaces of top-bottom ends inside AAM. Further surface coating of silica NTs hybrid AAM with hydrophobic agents facilitated the production of extremely robust constructed sequences of membranes without the formation of air gaps among NT arrays. The fabricated membranes with impermeable coated layers, robust surfaces, and uniformly multidirectional cylinder pores in nanoscale sizes rapidly separate large quantities of proteins within seconds. Meanwhile, comprehensive factors that affect the performance of the molecular transport, diffusivity, and filtration rate through nanofilter membranes were discussed. The mesocylinder filters of macromolecules show promise for the efficient separation and molecular transport of large molecular weight and size as well as concentrations of proteins.     

Copper(II)–diaminosarcophagine‐functionalized SBA‐15: a heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the synthesis of benzimidazole,benzoxazole and benzothiazole derivatives under solvent‐free conditions

Solvent‐free organic reactions were studied over periodic mesoporous silica (SBA‐15) containing a Cu(II) organometallic complex. This heterogeneous catalyst was achieved by coordination of Cu(II) ions with the diaminosarcophagine ligand and then its grafting onto the surface of SBA‐15. This catalyst displayed ordered mesoporous channels, which implies an extremely high dispersion of the Cu(II) complex and the convenient diffusion of reactant molecules into the pore channels. Therefore, this catalyst can offer high activity and also facile separation or recycling when compared with its homogeneous counterparts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of pore structure in mesoporous silicas on VOC dynamic adsorption/desorption performance

The dynamic adsorption/desorption behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene (C7H8) and benzene (C6H6) was evaluated for three kinds of mesoporous silicas of SBA-15, all having almost the same mesopore size of ca. 5.7 nm, and a MCM-41 silica with a smaller pore size of 2.1 nm using a continuous three-step test. The fiberlike SBA-15 silica exhibited exceptionally good breakthrough behavior, a higher VOC capacity, and easier desorption. The fiberlike silica was composed through the catenation of rodlike particles. The rodlike silicas, by comparison, were proven to be less useful in dynamic adsorption processes because of lower dynamic VOC capacities despite having comparative porous parameters with the fiberlike silica. The large dynamic VOC capacity of the fiberlike silica was attributed to the presence of a bimodal pore system consisting of longer, one-dimensional mesopore channels connected by complementary micropores.     

A strategy to incorporate monodispersed PbS nanoparticles into ordered mesoporous silica monolith

A new synthetic procedure has been developed for the preparation of ordered mesoporous silica monoliths doped with uniform PbS nanoparticles (NPs). Ordered mesoporous silica monoliths functionalized with thiol groups have been synthesized through co-condensation method in a lyotropic liquid crystalline system. Thiol groups on the interior wall facilitate the incorporation of Pb²⁺ cations and the formation of PbS NPs inside the ordered mesopores. Combined analysis results indicate that the PbS NPs with a uniform particle size of about 2.5 nm are mostly confined inside the ordered pores of hosts. A great blue shift in the absorbance spectrum has been observed, which shows an obvious quantum confinement effect.     

Medical applications of organic-inorganic hybrid materials within the field of silica-based bioceramics

Research on bioceramics has evolved from the use of inert materials for mere substitution of living tissues towards the development of third-generation bioceramics aimed at inducing bone tissue regeneration. Within this context hybrid bioceramics have remarkable features resulting from the synergistic combination of both inorganic and organic components that make them suitable for a wide range of medical applications. Certain bioceramics, such as ordered mesoporous silicas, can exhibit different kind of interaction with organic molecules to develop different functions. The weak interaction of these host matrixes with drug molecules confined in the mesoporous channels allows these hybrid systems to be used as controlled delivery devices. Moreover, mesoporous silicas can be used to fabricate three (3D)-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. In this last case, different osteoinductive agents (peptides, hormones and growth factors) can be strongly grafted to the bioceramic matrix to act as attracting signals for bone cells to promote bone regeneration process. Finally, recent research examples of organic-inorganic hybrid bioceramics, such as stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems and nanosystems for targeting of cancer cells and gene transfection, are also tackled in this tutorial review (64 references).     

Extended architectures constructed of thiourea-modified SBA-15 nanoreactor: A versatile new support for the fabrication of palladium pre-catalyst

We designed and synthesized a novel catalyst consisting of ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) functionalized with bis(thiourea) (BTU) linker. The regular and unique pore channels of BTU-SBA-15 ensure proper control of the size and homogeneous distribution of palladium nanoparticles. The physiochemical properties of the hybrid Pd@BTU-SBA-15 pre-catalyst were investigated using various techniques. The proposed catalyst is found to be very active, reusable, stable and scalable, and has excellent reactivity and selectivity for Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions under very mild and sustainable reaction conditions.