Preparation of helical mesoporous ethylene–silica nanofibers using CTAB and (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol

The morphology and pore architecture of mesoporous ethylene–silicas were controlled using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the template and (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol (MB) as a co-structure-directing agent. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques have been used to characterize the ethylene–silicas. When the MB/CTAB molar ratio is 20, mesoporous nanoparticles with lamellar mesopores on their surfaces were identified. Helical nanofibers were obtained at the MB/CTAB molar ratios of 0.5–10. Although MB could not drive the formation of single-handed helical nanofibers, with increasing the MB/CTAB molar ratio, the diameter and the helical pitch of the mesoporous ethylene–silica nanofibers decreased and the pore size increased.