TEMPLATE-BASED APPROACHES TO THE PREPARATION OF AMORPHOUS, NANOPOROUSSILICAS

This review discusses two classes of organic template-derived amorphou s silicas distinguished by the nature of template-matrix interactions and the extent to which subsequent processing dictates the final pore morphology. First we discuss surfactant-templated silicas where the te mplate-matrix interaction is via non-covalent bonding mechanisms and t he pore structure is established in the solution stage. We then discus s silicas templated by organic ligands covalently bonded to the siloxa ne network where subsequent processing strongly influences the final p ore structure.