Effect of fat chain length of sorbitan surfactant on the porosity of mesoporous silica

The influence of the fat chain length of sorbitan surfactant was systematically explored, especially its influence on the material pore size. Then, mesoporous silica was synthesized according to a two-step process that provides intermediary stable hybrid micelles using ethoxylated derivative of fatty esters of sorbitan surfactants as the directing-structure agent and tetraethyl orthosilicate Si(OEt)4 as the silica source. Finally, the materials’ porosity could be controlled by adjusting the preparation parameters during the two steps synthesis of mesoporous silica.