Fabrication of mesoporous spherical silica nanoparticles and effects of synthesis conditions on particle mesostructure

Abstract Despite the great progress in the field of mesoporous silica materials, there are few reports on mesoporous spherical silica nanoparticles (MSSNPs) synthesized by hydrolysis and co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and n -octadecyltrimethoxysilane (C18TMS). Here, we design a facile strategy for the synthesis of MSSNPs using C18TMS as a porogen, and TEOS as a silica precursor in a water–ethanol–ammonia system. Further, we investigate the effects of some synthesis conditions, including synthesis time, reaction temperature and molar ratio of EtOH/H 2 O on mesostructure. The obtained particles show tunable pore diameter, pore volume and surface area by changing synthesis conditions. Electron microscopy images show a particle size ranging from 100 nm to 200 nm. The N 2 adsorption analysis indicates that the maximum Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and Barrett–Joyner–Halanda pore volume up to 1164.9 m 2  g −1 and 1.5 cm 3  g −1 respectively, and a maximum pore diameter of 4.9 nm.