One-step formation of functionalized mesoporous shell on silica core for chromatography

Since stationary phase is the key to chromatographic separations, it is worth pursuing simpler and more efficient methods for preparing chromatographic stationary phases. In this work, co-condensation and pseudomorphic transformation were combined to prepare a functionalized shell on the surface of the silica core in one step, and different kinds of silylation reagents were used to investigate the self-assembly mechanism. 3-Mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane facilitated the formation of the shell during pseudomorphic transformation, and sulfhydryl groups were distributed in the shell uniformly. These core-shell particle were applied in hydrophilic chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography successfully after the oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups to sulfonic acid groups. Pseudomorphic transformation with silylated reagents has the advantage of rapid preparation of chromatographic stationary phases with good reproducibility.