Organosilsesquioxane Particles Prepared by Controlled Sol-Gel Process or Heterocondensation with Colloidal Silica Particles: A Novel Route Towards Nanoporous Silica Particles by a Templating Effect

Hybrid organic-inorganic particles containing labile organic templates have been prepared by either controlled Sol-Gel processing or co-condensation of colloidal silica particles with organosilicon precursors. Chemical removal of the templating organic spacer led to monomodal, microstructured porous silica particles exhibiting up to 50% porosity. Particle size and distribution, and porosity varied depending upon the process and the chemistry used to remove the porogen organic groups.