Different sources of silicon precursors influencing on surface characteristics and pore morphologies of mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Abstract Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesized via a sol-gel method simplified by using pluronic F127 surfactant as a pore template without following the two steps of butanol co-surfactant mixing and hydrothermal processing. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and rice husk (RH) were used as chemical and natural sources of silicon (Si) precursors, respectively. As-received RH was pre-treated with naturally enzyme solutions to extract its impurities. As-synthesized powders were calcined at 500 and 600°C to optimize heating conditions for removing organic matters. Surface characteristics, chemical functionalities and ordered-disordered mesopores of the calcined powders were characterized using various techniques. Experimental results revealed that highly ordered (SBA-16) and disordered MSNs were obtained from the synthesized routes using TEOS and pre-treated RH, respectively. Disordered mesopores formed have been explored and discussed in terms of metal oxides, trace elements and surface characteristics analyzed by X-ray fluorescent analysis (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. In summary, SBA-16 and the disordered MSNs obtained from the synthesized method have potential as drug deliveries or catalyst supports due to their high purities and typical characteristics of the mesopores with possessing large surface areas and pore sizes.