Anions present in the synthesis gel (X = F-, Cl-, Br-, NO3-, and SO42-) par
tly remain in the channels of mesoporous templated silicas prepared in basi
c media. Their lyotropic character and their concentration control the sila
nolate group (=SiO-) density at the surfactant-inorganic interface through
the electrical charge neutrality, implicating the positive charges of the t
emplating self-assembled surfactants, Si. Accordingly, the well-accepted {S
+ I-} generic pathway should be better referred as to {S+, mX(-), (1 - m)I-
}.