Mesoporous phenylene–silica hybrid materials with 3D-cage pore structures

Mesoporous phenylene–silica materials with three-dimensional-cage structures were synthesized from a phenylene-bridged disilane precursor [(EtO)3–Si–C6H4–Si–(OEt)3] using various surfactants. Compared to 1D-channel type materials, the 3D-cage mesoporous materials have an advantage of easy access and diffusion of molecules inside the pores. The materials obtained using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16TMA+Br−) or hexadecylpyridinium chloride (C16Py+Cl−) show spherical morphology with a 3D-cage pore architecture and cubic symmetry. The use of triblock copolymer F88 [(EO)100–(PO)39–(EO)100] resulted in a 3D-cage type mesoporous material with microporosity in the pore walls. All the materials have high thermal stability of up to 773 K.