Structural control of mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles in a binary surfactant system assisted by hydrolysis and ordered assembly

The dependence of the structural properties of mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles on preparative parameters were thoroughly investigated in a binary surfactant system composed of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000). Structural control could be achieved by adjusting the parameters for the hydrolysis of silica precursor which was induced by acidic aluminum salt and the subsequent assembly of hydrolyzed species with surfactants under basic conditions. The formation of the mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles was based on the balance between the ordered assembly of anionic inorganic species and cationic micelles through electrostatic interaction and the regulation of grain size distribution through hydrogen bonds with nonionic PEG-4000 surrounding the nanoparticles.