Synthesis of a novel class of mesoporous hollow silica from organic templates

A novel class of silica hollow core mesoporus materials were prepared using organic templates such as ammonia, n-propylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and triethanolamine, and their mesoporosity are known from surface area measurements. Among the templates, triethanolamine catalysed sample was studied in detail. X-ray diffraction spectra show the sample has peaks in the mesoporous region. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy and transition electron microscopy reveals the sample is hollow nanocuboid. Thermogravimetric analysis shows the 56% weight loss. Further studies by N2 adsorption reveals the sample has surface area 792 m2/g having pore diameter in the mesoporous region ca. 3.8 nm. FT-IR analysis shows the sample having T–O–T vibrations similar to other mesoporous molecular sieves.