A study on the structural properties of mesoporous silica spheres

The mesoporous silica spheres were prepared by using sodium silicate as silica precursor, and low concentration of CTAB and propanol as templating agents. The resulting spherical particles were characterised by low angle PXRD, N2 adsorption–desorption studies, pore size distribution, BET-surface area, surface morphology analysis and FTIR. From PXRD data and electron probe microanalysis, it was observed that the propanol:CTAB molar ratio 8.5:1 is the optimum for preparing the mesoporous silica spheres. With excess of propanol the orderliness of mesoporous silica has been disturbed forming agglomerate particulates. Again the BJH pore diameter and cell parameter (a) go on decreasing with the increase in the propanol:CTAB molar ratio.