Ionic liquid templated high surface area mesoporous silica and Ru–SiO2

Imidazole type ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium ruthenium hexachloride were used to fabricate the well-ordered hexagonal mesoporous silica (under acidic and basic conditions), and Ru–SiO2, respectively. Small angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption were employed to characterize the structure. The mesoporosity of the silica matrix is preserved after calcination of organic templates. The pore diameter of silica prepared from acidic media (2.20 nm) was smaller and less ordered than that of silica from basic solution (2.74 nm). Further, the mesoporous structure of Ru–SiO2 was found to be preserved after calcination, however, RuO2 nanoparticles formed in the matrix of mesoporous silica upon calcination.