Silicone surfactant templating for mesoporous silica@carbon complex

Mesoporous silica@carbon complex (MSC) with ordered two dimensional (p6mm) arranged meso-channels were synthesized using resol precursors under the direction of commercially available silicone surfactant DOW CORNING® Q4-3667 FLUID (Q4-3667), which acted not only as effective template, but also as silica source. The as-made mesoporous material was prepared via hydrothermal procedure. After stepwise curing and further carbonization, the phenolic resins were converted to mesoporous carbon, and the well-arranged mesochannels were filled with nano-sized silica converted by the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block of Q4-3667. The MSC exhibited improved electrochemical performance as lithium-ion intercalating material than its corresponding mesoporous carbon and complex with mixed silica–carbon frameworks.

Graphical abstractMesoporous silica@carbon complex (MSC) with ordered two dimensional (p6mm) arranged meso-channels were synthesized using resol precursors under the direction of commercially available silicone surfactant DOW CORNING® Q4-3667 FLUID (Q4-3667), which acted not only as effective template, but also as silica source. The as-made mesoporous material was prepared via hydrothermal procedure. After stepwise curing and further carbonization, the phenolic resins were converted to mesoporous carbon, and the well-arranged mesochannels were filled with nano-sized silica converted by the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block of Q4-3667.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Commercially available silicone surfactant was used as template. ► PDMS segments integrate both the structure template and the silica source. ► Mesoporous silica@carbon complex was achieved via hydrothermal treatment and further calcination.