Synthesis of mesoporous silica nanosphere using different templates

Synthesis of mesoporous silica nanosphere were carried out using polyvinyl pyrrolidine and different templates with surfactant property, namely cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, nn-octylamine, tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPABr) and these amines give good yield except TPABr. Attempts with other amines without surfactant properties, such as nn-propylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, triethanolamine templates did not give any precipitate in the present reaction scheme. The above synthesis followed by sonication did not change the trend. However addition of dodeycl sodium sulfate surfactant before sonication gave precipitate in all amines, which shows particle growth is induced by surfactant.