Particle size control of mono-dispersed super-microporous silica spheresElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Comparison of the nitrogen and argon adsorption isotherms of De5 and scanning electron micrographs of calcined samples synthesized with different concentrations of TMABr and TMOS: De1, De6 and De7. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/jm/b3/b304867p/

Abstract

The particle size of mono-dispersed super-microporous silica spheres synthesized from tetramethoxysilane and n-decyltrimethylammonium bromide was successfully controlled by variation of the synthesis temperature, methanol ∶ water ratio in solvent and silica source in the range of 0.52 to 1.25 µm, while their mono-dispersion characteristics were retained. The adsorption properties of the samples were a specific surface area of 700–1000 m² g⁻¹ and a pore volume of 0.32–0.41 ml g⁻¹, and were mainly affected by the synthesis temperature. The mono-dispersed super-microporous silica spheres obtained had a particle diameter equivalent to the wavelength of visible light, and thus their optical use, for example, as photonic crystals, is expected.