Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica from Sodium Silica Solutions and a Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Surfactant

Preparation of mesoporous silica by the neutral route has advantages compared with that by electrostatic routes, however, until now the starting materials were alkoxysilanes-rather expensive silica sources. A synthesis is presented that starts from sodium silicate solutions, as an inexpensive inorganic silicon source, and a poly(ethylene oxide)-based neutral surfactant. The communication focuses on the influence of the polycondensation conditions, e.g., pH, synthesis temperature, aging time, and surfactant-to-silica molar ratio, on the stability and pore size of the materials.