Structure-selective synthesis of mesostructured/mesoporous silica nanofibers

Well-ordered mesostructured/mesoporous silica nanofibers have been synthesized in a quiescent dilute aqueous cationic surfactant/silica precursor reaction mixture under strong acidic conditions. These nanofibers have diameters ranging from 50 to 300 nm and lengths up to millimeters. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show that the nanofibers exhibit either a circular architecture with the pore channels running in a circular direction around the fiber axis or a longitudinal architecture with the pore channels running parallel to the fiber axis. The pore channels in both arrangements are hexagonally packed. The circular or longitudinal architecture can be selectively obtained during synthesis by varying reaction temperature or using inorganic salts as additives.