The Synthesis of Mesoporous Copper Silicates Using Organofunctional Silicon Alkoxides

The ability of organofunctional silicon alkoxides to bind metal ions is taken advantage of to produce copper-substituted mesoporous silica. Evidence is presented that the Cu2+, which is distributed homogeneously throughout the structure, is actually incorporated into the framework. Through X-ray diffraction, electron spin resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and surface area measurements it is demonstrated that, apart from having thicker walls, this new mesoporous material has similar structural characteristics and physical properties to those of pure hexagonal mesoporous silicas.