Template preparation of twisted nanoparticles of mesoporous silica

Optical isomers of N-lauroyl-l-(or-d-) alanine sodium salt {C12-l-(or-d-)AlaS} surfactants were used for the preparation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a twisted hexagonal rod-like morphology. SEM, HRTEM and XRD patterns of these as-synthesized mesoporous silica confirmed that the twisted morphology of these nanoparticles was closely related to the supramolecular-assembled complex of amino acid surfactants.