Synthesis, Characterization and Textural Analysis of Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Using Sodium Silicate as Precursor and Silicone Surfactant as Template

Three mesoporous silica with different functional group were prepared by one-step synthesis based on the simultaneous hydrolysis and condensation of sodium silicate with organo - silane in the presence of template surfactant polydimethylsiloxane - polyethyleneoxide (PDMS - PEO). The prepared materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption experiments. The results indicate that the preparation of methyl and phenyl functionalized silica were successful and the mass of methyl and phenyl groups bonded to the silica structure are 15, 38 mmol per gram silica. The average diameter of the silica particles are 103.51, 167.25 , and 86.41 nm while the average pore diameter are 6.7, 16.4, and 2.7 nm for unfunctionalized, methyl, and phenyl functionalized silica respectively.