Generic way for functionalised well-ordered cubic mesoporous silicavia direct synthesis approach

Abstract

Applications of functionalised mesoporous silica are dependent upon the location, the quantity and the accessibility of the functional groups attached in the inner pores, particularly in the case of cubic ordered porous structure. Facilitating such material synthesis could be of great interest. Herein, we present a controlled and generic route to functionalised and well-ordered cubic mesoporous silica by direct synthesis and an efficient method for complete template removal without structure collapse nor loss of organic content, leading to better functional accessibility and thus material capability. Materials were obtained by co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and an organotriethoxysilane Σ-(CH₂)₃-Si(OR′)₃ (with R′ = Me or Et and Σ = CN, SH, CH₃COCHCOCH₃ (acac) and PO(OEt)₂) in the presence of F127 as structure-directing agent in acidic media. All materials were characterised by XRD, TEM, TGA, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopies, nitrogen gas adsorption–desorption measurements as well as elemental analyses. Functional accessibility and adsorption capacity of such materials were proved by complexation of lanthanide ions thanks to acac groups.