Synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica membrane on inorganic hollow fiber

This paper reports on a new method for the preparation of mesoporous silica membranes on alumina hollow fibers. A surfactant-silica sol is filled in the lumen of an alpha-alumina hollow fiber. The filtration technique combined with an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process results in the formation of a continuous ordered mesoporous silica layer on the outer side of alpha-alumina hollow fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen isothermal adsorption measurements reveal that these membranes possess hexagonal (P6mm) mesostructures with pore diameters of 4.48 nm and BET surfaces of 492.3 m(2) g(-1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies show that the layers are defect free and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping images further confirm the formation of continuous mesoporous silica layer on the outer side of alpha-alumina hollow fibers. Nitrogen and hydrogen permeance tests show that the membranes are defect free.     

有序介孔氧化硅薄膜制备及其组装化学

本文综述了近年来利用有机模板法合成有序介孔二氧化硅薄膜的研究进展，重点阐述了两相界面外延生长和蒸发诱导自组装两种制备方法及其合成机理。此外，讨论了有序介孔二氧化硅薄膜的组装化学，包括金属元素掺杂，纳米粒子在介孔薄膜中的组装，以及有机物/二氧化硅纳米复合薄膜的制备，并对介孔二氧化硅薄膜未来的发展趋势做了展望。     

Gas diffusion and microstructural properties of ordered mesoporous silica fibers

Pore and surface diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and ethylene (C(2)H(4)) in the nanopores of ordered mesoporous silica fibers about 200 microm in length was measured by the transient gravimetric method. The experimentally determined pore diffusivity data, coupled with the porosity, pore size, and fiber length, are used to obtain the actual length of the nanopores in silica fibers. These measurements reveal a structure of the ordered nanopores whirling helically around the fiber axis with a spiral diameter of about 15 microm and a pitch value of 1.6 microm. At room temperature the surface diffusion contributes about 10% to the total diffusional flux for these two gases in the nanopores of the ordered mesoporous silica fibers. The surface diffusion coefficients for the ordered mesoporous silica fibers are about 1 order of magnitude larger than the non-ordered mesoporous alumina or silica with similar pore size.     

介孔二氧化硅-接枝胶原杂化材料的制备和表征(英)

利用接枝胶原与介孔二氧化硅制备一种新型生物无机杂化材料。用甲基丙烯酸甲酯为接枝剂对胶原进行共聚改性制得接枝胶原。以正硅酸乙酯为模板，十二烷基三甲基溴化铵为表面活性剂，用一个简单的热处理过程制得介孔二氧化硅。介孔二氧化硅-接枝胶原杂化材料通过超声分散接枝胶原与介孔二氧化硅的混合物制得，其三维结构用X射线衍射表征，晶格参数a，b和c分别为0.68，0.37和1.64 nm，为正交晶型。氮气吸附-解吸等温线显示杂化材料的比表面积可达273 m²·g^-1，孔体积为0.13 cm³·g^-1，平均孔径3.4 nm，分布窄。该杂化材料在8～14 μm波长的红外发射率可低至0.323，在光电子学器件和红外隐身领域具有潜在应用价值。     

Synthesis of mesoporous silica helical fibers using a catanionic-neutral ternary surfactant in a highly dilute silica solution: biomimetic silicification

Mesoporous silica helical fibers in many different shapes have been synthesized in a highly dilute silicate solution at pH approximately 2.0 by using CnTMAB-SDS-P123 (n = 14-18) ternary surfactant as a template. The mesoporous silica helical fibers possess a well-ordered hexagonal mesostructure, high surface area, and large pore volume. Thus, the microtome sections of the helical fibers demonstrate a concentric mesotructure or two hemiconcentric mesostructures. In addition to triblock copolymer, adding the proper amount of 1-butanol or pentanol can promote the yield of the helical fibers as well. The yield of the surfactant-templated helical fibers is also dependent on the water content, reaction temperature, and pH value of the solution. The mesoporous silica helical fiber can be used as a solid template to prepare mesoporous carbon helical fibers via impregnation of phenol-formaldehyde, pyrolysis, and silica removal.     

Characteristics of Template Formation in Silica in Acidic Media

Characteristics of template formation in silica at pH < 0.1 in the presence of a surface active substance (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or chloride) have been investigated. Depending on the acidity of the reaction medium and some other factors, the synthesis of spontaneously growing particles of templated silica at interfacial surfaces led to the formation of fibers, spirals, spheres, and other forms, most of which appeared as hexagonally ordered bodies of revolution. It is possible to detemplate these forms of silica and to transform them to mesoporous molecular sieves without destroying their structures.     

Synthesis and formation of hierarchical mesoporous silica network in acidic aqueous solutions of sodium silicate and cationic surfactant

Synthesis and formation of hierarchical mesoporous silica network in acidic aqueous solutions of commercial sodium silicate and cationic surfactant were studied by SEM, TEM, XRD and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. The formation process occurs through several steps, involving (1) formation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles; (2) aggregation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles into blocks; (3) growth of silica nanorods in closely-packed arrays by merging of silica nanoparticles; (4) separation of the nanorods to form 3D silica network; and (4) shrinking of the mesoporous silica network. The as-prepared 3D silica network exhibits bimodal morphology constituting mesoporous and macroporous phases.     

Formation Mechanism of Mesostructured Silica in Confined Space: An In Situ GISAXS Study

The structural evolution of periodic mesoporous material within the channels of anodic alumina membranes (AAMs) by evaporation‐induced self‐assembly (EISA) is investigated by a combination of in situ grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) with parallel detection of solvent evaporation and ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Kinetically controlled and equilibrium‐controlled structural evolution can be distinguished for these EISA processes. A new mechanism for formation of mesostructures in the confined environment of AAMs is proposed. Data are presented for samples synthesized with nonionic surfactants at various surfactant:silica ratios and relative humidities. The formation of and transformations between circular or columnar 2D hexagonal and tubular lamellar structures are observed. The circular hexagonal phase is kinetically favored over the columnar hexagonal orientation. The TEM images provide evidence that phase transformations, depending on their type, either start preferentially at the channel wall or in the center of the mesostructured fibers.     

Advances in the Interfacial Assembly of Mesoporous Silica on Magnetite Particles

Interfacing magnetic particles with ordered mesoporous materials is an effective direction for the development of functional porous composite materials with rationally designed core–shell structures. Owing to the combined properties of magnetic nanoparticles and mesoporous silica (high surface area, large pore volume, porosity, and biocompatibility), core–shell magnetic mesoporous silica materials have generated tremendous interest in various disciplines, including chemistry, materials, bioengineering, and biomedicine. Interfacial assembly strategies enable the rational construction of magnetic mesoporous silica materials with well‐defined core–shell structure, morphology, pore parameters, and surface wettability, which can decisively influence their physical and chemical properties and thus improve their application performance. This Minireview summarizes recent progress in the synthesis of core–shell magnetic mesoporous silica and the adjustment of key parameters, including pore size, morphology, and pore orientation.     

Grain size control of mesoporous silica and formation of bimodal pore structures

The architecture of mesoporous silica was successfully controlled by adjusting the concentrations of a cationic surfactant and ammonia. An excess amount of the surfactant suppressed the grain growth and then induced the formation of small grains with a diameter below 20 nm. Consequently, assembly of the small-sized grains produced a bimodal pore structure consisting of framework mesopores of 2-3 nm and textural mesopores ranging over 10-100 nm.     

Structural control of mesoporous silica nanoparticles in a binary surfactant system

The grain size and regularity of the hexagonal array of mesoporous silica nanoparticles were investigated in a binary surfactant system composed of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and triblock copolymer EO106PO60EO106. Structural control was achieved by varying the parameters for the prior hydrolysis of silicon alkoxide under an acidic condition and the subsequent assembly of silicates and surfactants under a basic condition. The formation of the mesoscale architectures was based on the balance between the ordered assembly of anionic silicates and the cationic surfactant through electrostatic interaction and the inhibition of grain growth with a nonionic amphiphilic agent through hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis of mesoporous silica nanobamboo with highly dispersed tungsten carbide nanoparticles

By controlling the interaction between cationic surfactant micelles and ammonium metatungstate during the formation of mesoporous silica structure, highly dispersed tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles of 2.0 nm in diameter on mesoporous silica nanospheres were synthesized at lower concentration of ammonium metatungstate. With additional ammonium metatungstate, a novel mesoporous silica nanobamboo structure was formed with bimodal size-distributed WC nanoparticles, in which 2.0 nm WC was homogeneously distributed in nanobamboo's mesoporous silica wall and those with larger diameter (10.0-20.0 nm) were only formed on the nanobamboo's inner surface and at its internodes. The mesoporous silica nanobamboo also had a very high tensile strength due to its bamboo-like structure.     

Template-free sol–gel synthesis of high surface area mesoporous silica based catalysts for esterification of di-carboxylic acids

High surface area mesoporous silica based catalysts have been prepared by a simple hydrolysis/sol–gel process without using any organic template and hydrothermal treatment. A controlled hydrolysis of ethyl silicate-40, an industrial bulk chemical, as a silica precursor, resulted in the formation of very high surface area (719 m²/g) mesoporous (pore size 67 Å and pore volume 1.19 cc/g) silica. The formation of mesoporous silica has been correlated with the polymeric nature of the ethyl silicate-40 silica precursor which on hydrolysis and further condensation forms long chain silica species which hinders the formation of a close condensed structure thus creating larger pores resulting in the formation of high surface mesoporous silica. Ethyl silicate-40 was used further for preparing a solid acid catalyst by supporting molybdenum oxide nanoparticles on mesoporous silica by a simple hydrolysis sol–gel synthesis procedure. The catalysts showed very high acidity as determined by NH₃-TPD with the presence of Lewis as well as Brønsted acidity. These catalysts showed very high catalytic activity for esterification; a typical acid catalyzed organic transformation of various mono- and di-carboxylic acids with a range of alcohols. The in situ formed silicomolybdic acid heteropoly-anion species during the catalytic reactions were found to be catalytically active species for these reactions. Ethyl silicate-40, an industrial bulk silica precursor, has shown a good potential for its use as a silica precursor for the preparation of mesoporous silica based heterogeneous catalysts on a larger scale at a lower cost.     

Manipulation of molecular transport into mesoporous silica thin films by the infiltration of polyelectrolytes

The design of hybrid mesoporous materials incorporating polymeric assemblies as versatile functional units has become a very fertile research area offering major opportunities for controlling molecular transport through interfaces. However, the creation of such functional materials depends critically on our ability to assemble polymeric units in a predictable manner within mesopores with dimensions comparable to the size of the macromolecular blocks themselves. In this work, we describe for the first time the manipulation of the molecular transport properties of mesoporous silica thin films by the direct infiltration of polyelectrolytes into the inner environment of the 3D porous framework. The hybrid architectures were built up through the infiltration-electrostatic assembly of polyallylamine (PAH) on the mesopore silica walls, and the resulting systems were studied by a combination of experimental techniques including ellipso-porosimetry, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, among others. Our results show that the infiltration-assembly of PAH alters the intrinsic cation-permselective properties of mesoporous silica films, rendering them ion-permeable mesochannels and enabling the unrestricted diffusion of cationic and anionic species through the hybrid interfacial architecture. Contrary to what happens during the electrostatic assembly of PAH on planar silica films (quantitative charge reversal), the surface charge of the mesoporous walls is completely neutralized upon assembling the cationic PAH layer (i.e., no charge reversal occurs). We consider this work to have profound implications not only on the molecular design of multifunctional mesoporous thin films but also on understanding the predominant role of nanoconfinement effects in dictating the functional properties of polymer-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials.     

中空纳米二氧化硅微球的制备及表征

本文介绍了一种制备中空纳米二氧化硅微球的新方法。利用模板首先合成介孔纳米二氧化硅微球,再用水热反应法,成功制备了非功能化和巯基、氨基功能化中空纳米二氧化硅微球。利用透射电子显微镜,热重分析等手段对其形貌进行了表征。另外,对中空介孔纳米二氧化硅微球的形成机制进行了探讨。     

Mesoporous carbon/silica nanocomposite through multi-component assembly

Ordered mesoporous carbon/silica nanocomposites were synthesized through a novel multi-component molecular assembly and show promising potential as corrosion-resisted electrocatalyst supports.     

A Single‐Crystalline Mesoporous Quartz Superlattice

There has been significant interest in the crystallization of nanostructured silica into α‐quartz because of its physicochemical properties. We demonstrate a single‐crystalline mesoporous quartz superlattice, a silica polymorph with unprecedentedly ordered hierarchical structures on both the several tens of nanometers scale and the atomic one. The mesoporous quartz superlattice consists of periodically arranged α‐quartz nanospheres whose crystalline axes are mostly oriented in an assembly. The superlattice is prepared by thermal crystallization of amorphous silica nanospheres constituting a colloidal crystal. We found that the deposition of a strong flux of Li⁺ only on the surface of silica nanospheres is effective for crystallization.     

巯丙基功能化介孔纳米二氧化硅的合成

用三种不同的方法将巯基丙基三甲氧基硅烷(MPTMS)引入二氧化硅网络中, 合成了粒径为50-200 nm的巯丙基功能化的介孔纳米二氧化硅, 并利用透射电子显微镜, 热重分析等手段对其形貌与性能进行了表征. 在巯丙基官能团的作用下介孔纳米二氧化硅的形貌发生了重大改变, 由非常规则的六角形变为纳米棒. 控制反应时间可以调节介孔纳米二氧化硅的粒径大小, 用三乙醇胺代替氢氧化钠可以合成直径在100 nm以下的功能化介孔二氧化硅粒子. 为了保护巯基官能团, 选用了酸醇提取法去除模板. 另外, 对介孔二氧化硅粒子的形成机制也进行了探讨.     

Bioresponsive nanogated ensemble based on structure-switchable aptamer directed assembly and disassembly of gold nanoparticles from mesoporous silica supports

By taking advantage of recent advances in aptamer biology and nanotechnology, a general approach was developed for the design and fabrication of bioresponsive controlled delivery system. It utilized the structure-switchable aptamer directed assembly and disassembly of gold nanoparticles from mesoporous silica supports, which enables the control of cargo release from the inside of the mesoporous nanoparticles specifically in the presence of target molecule.     

Vesicle adsorption on mesoporous silica and titania

Lipid bilayer formation via vesicle fusion on mesoporous silica and mesoporous titania was investigated using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Results showed that lipid bilayers were formed on mesoporous silica and that intact vesicle adsorption was obtained on mesoporous titania. From the FRAP results, it could be concluded that the lipid bilayer was fluid; however, it had a smaller diffusivity constant compared to bilayers supported on a nonporous silica.