Nano Express
Structural Characterization of Mesoporous Silica Nanofibers Synthesized Within Porous Alumina Membranes
1 Nanomaterials Research Institute, College of Material Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 210016, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
2 National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
Nanoscale Research Letters 2009, 4:1257-1262 doi:10.1007/s11671-009-9389-4
Published: 14 July 2009Abstract
Mesoporous silica nanofibers were synthesized within the pores of the anodic aluminum oxide template using a simple sol–gel method. Transmission electron microscopy investigation indicated that the concentration of the structure-directing agent (EO20PO70EO20) had a significant impact on the mesostructure of mesoporous silica nanofibers. Samples with alignment of nanochannels along the axis of mesoporous silica nanofibers could be formed under the P123 concentration of 0.15 mg/mL. When the P123 concentration increased to 0.3 mg/mL, samples with a circular lamellar mesostructure could be obtained. The mechanism for the effect of the P123 concentration on the mesostructure of mesoporous silica nanofibres was proposed and discussed.
