One-pot synthesis of organic polymer functionalized mesoporous silicas

Polymer functionalization of ordered mesoporous silicas (OMS) offer wide applications owing to their synergy properties. In this study, a new approach for polymer functionalization of OMS is demonstrated by the co-condensation of silica precursor and a functional polymer bearing triethoxysilane end-group in the presence of a tailored poly (ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene (PEO-b-PS) amphiphilic copolymer used as pore template. The novelty of this strategy resides in the co-micellization of PEO-b-PS and functional polymer that enables the incorporation of the latter into the mesoporous silica. By changing the nature of the functional polymer, as well as their loading concentration and process conditions, different ordered polymer-mesoporous silicas containing aryl, nitro or amide groups and high polymer content, up to 38 wt% were synthesized. These materials exhibit high specific surface area (488 m2 g−1) and large pores (8 nm) with acceptable CO2 adsorption capacity and selectivity towards CH4 and N2.