Preparation of lamellar and hexagonal forms of mesoporous silica and zirconia by the neutral amine route: lamellar–hexagonal transformation in the solid state

The chain length of the surfactant and the solvent composition are two of the factors that determine whether the lamellar or the hexagonal form of mesoporous SiO2(or ZrO2) is formed by the neutral amine route; a lamellar–hexagonal transformation occurs on removal of the amine from the former.