Abstract
A new type of mesoporous silica foam having extremely low bulk density (<0.01 g cm-3), high mesopore volume (>2 cm3 g-1) and specific surface area (> 1000 m2 g-1) was prepared by the spraying of aqueous siliceous solutions containing alkyltrimethylammonium surfactants under high pH conditions. These remarkable properties were ascribed to macrovoids and two kinds of mesopores ranging around 3 and 40 nm. The macrocellular structure produced with air bubbles was stabilized through a rapid condensation reaction during drying. The framework of the macrovoids contained mesopores with a bimodal distribution derived from the surfactant micelles and the interparticle spaces of silica nanoparticles. The hierarchical self-assembly of surfactant micelles, silica nanoparticles and air bubbles provided the specific architecture with a trimodal pore size distribution.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1812-1816 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Materials Chemistry |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 Jul 1 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Materials Chemistry