Tunable Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica Particles with Unique Radially Oriented Pore Structures from Tetramethyl Orthosilicate via Oil–Water Emulsion Process

Numerous studies of the synthesis of mesoporous silica (MPS) particles with tailored properties have been published. Among those studies, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is commonly used as a silica source, but tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) is rarely used because its reaction is fast and difficult to control. In this study, MPS particles were synthesized via one-step controlled polymerization of styrene and hydrolysis of TMOS, followed by the addition of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and n-octane. The MPS particles obtained from TMOS generally have small inner pores, but the MPS particles obtained in this study had a unique radially oriented structure, a high surface area up to 800 m2 g–1, and large pores, of size 20 nm. The content of styrene in the emulsion system played a key role in increasing pore sizes of the MPS particles. A plausible mechanism for particle formation based on the phase behavior and type of the emulsion system is proposed. For further research, this material is expected to be useful for various applications, such as in drug delivery, filtration, and catalyst supports.