A tri-continuous mesoporous material with a silica pore wall following a hexagonal minimal surface

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• Ordered porous materials with mesoporous structures (2-50 nm) are crucial for catalysis, separation, and drug delivery.
• Existing mesoporous materials include one-dimensional, cage-like, and bi-continuous structures.
• Bi-continuous mesoporous materials typically feature two interwoven but unconnected channels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the synthesis of a novel three-dimensional hexagonal mesoporous silica, designated IBN-9.
• To characterize IBN-9's unique tri-continuous pore structure.
• To explore the potential of materials with mathematically predicted, yet previously unobserved, mesostructures.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of IBN-9 using a specially designed cationic surfactant template.
• Characterization of the material's pore structure and silica wall architecture.
• Analysis of the tri-continuous, hexagonal minimal surface-based structure.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of IBN-9, a mesoporous silica with a tri-continuous pore structure.
• IBN-9 features three identical, continuous, interpenetrating channels.
• The silica walls form a hexagonal minimal surface, a structure previously only predicted theoretically.

Conclusions:

• The synthesis of IBN-9 demonstrates the realization of a theoretically predicted tri-continuous mesoporous structure.
• This finding expands the library of known ordered porous materials.
• IBN-9's unique structure holds significant potential for applications in catalysis, separation, and drug delivery.