A mechanistic study of the formation of mesoporous structures from in situ AC conductivity measurements.

The purpose of this work is to study the kinetics of self-assembly in the formation mechanism of anionic templated mesoporous solids (AMS-n) during the first few seconds of the synthesis as well as to demonstrate the use of alternating ion current (AIC) conductivity measurements to follow the self-assembly in complex hybrid systems. The formation of different AMS-n caged-type mesostructures through the delayed addition of the silica source is demonstrated and explained in terms of the interaction between the co-structure-directing agent (CSDA) and the oppositely charged surfactant headgroup regions. Our findings, supported by transmission electron microscopy, 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, and powder X-ray diffraction suggest that the interaction of the CSDA with the surfactant headgroup occurs within seconds after its addition to the synthesis gel leading to interaction between the polymerizing CSDAs and the oppositely charged micelle and to an increase in the micelle-CSDA aggregate size. Both DLS and AIC measurements agree that this process occurs within the first 1000 s after addition of the CSDA to the synthesis gel at room temperature. In addition to the mechanistic study it was found that the intermediate materials are comprised of a three-layer entity. Time-dependent 29Si MAS NMR studies reveal that an organo-silica layer forms around the micelles prior to a condensed outer inorganic shell of silica.

Maghemite nanocrystal impregnation by hydrophobic surface modification of mesoporous silica.

Here, we report the design of a hybrid inorganic/organic mesoporous material through simultaneous pore engineering and hydrophobic surface modification of the intramesochannels to improve the uptake of superparamagnetic maghemite nanocrystals via impregnation techniques. The mesoporous material of the SBA-15 type was functionalized in situ with thiol organo-siloxane groups. Restricting the addition of the thiol organo-siloxane to 2 mol % yielded an inorganic/organic hybrid material characterized by large pores and a well-ordered hexagonal p6mm mesophase. The hydrophobic surface modification promoted the incorporation of 7.5 nm maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) nanocrystals, prepared through temperature-controlled decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in organic solvents. The hydrophobic, oleic acid capped superparamagnetic maghemite nanocrystals were incorporated into the porous network via wet impregnation from organic suspensions. Combining diffraction, microscopy, and adsorption data confirmed the uptake of the nanocrystals within the intramesochannels of the silica host. Magnetization dependencies on magnetic field at different temperatures show a constriction in the loop around the origin, which indicates immobilization of maghemite nanocrystals inside the thiol-functionalized silica host.