Fabrication of refining mesoporous silica nanofibers via electrospinning

Refining mesoporous silica nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning method. A triblock copolymer (Pluronic, P123, H(C2H5O)20(C3H7O)70(C2H5O)OH) was used as the structure direction agent and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) was employed to prepare refining nanofibers. SEM images showed that the refining fibers had an average diameter about 200–300 nm with smooth surface. FT-IR spectrum and TGA curve proved that P123 and PVP were removed from the fibers after a thermal treatment. It was found that the obtained silica nanofibers had mesoporous structure. The pore structures were characterized by XRD and the N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm.