Ordered thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica with macrostructure by true liquid crystal templating route

Ordered thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica has successfully been synthesized via co-condensation of tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) in lyotropic liquid crystalline phase of Brij 56 surfactact (C16EO10). In contrast to the common synthesis in micellar solution, true liquid crystal templating synthesis can easily fabricate organic-functionalized mesoporous silica with desirable macro-morphology and the loading amount of organic moieties can also be controlled well. The resultant materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), nitrogen sorption, polarized optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC–TGA), and elemental analyses (EA). Direct evidence of the presence of chemically attached thiol groups was provided by FT-IR, DSC–TGA and EA. Adsorption measurement indicates that the materials are effective for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The Hg2+ adsorption isotherm fits Langmuir behavior, but the Type-IV adsorption isotherm for Cd2+ was unexpectedly observed, which is probably attributed to significantly different Cd2+ affinity ability for the thiol groups on the external surface and those lining the framework pore channels of the nanoporous adsorbent.