Microwave synthesis of cubic mesoporous silica SBA-16

Cubic mesoporous silica SBA-16 materials with a rhombdodecahedral or decaoctahedral shape were synthesized by microwave reactions within 2 h using sodium silicate as the silica source and a triblock copolymer F127 as structure directing agents. The synthesis parameters, stirring time of the precursor solution before microwave reaction, microwave reaction time and temperature, were systematically varied and their influences on the structure and morphology were evaluated. The stirring time and reaction temperature govern the structure of the product and the reaction time influences the particle size and morphology. Through this study, we have established the optimal conditions for highly crystalline SBA-16 with rhombdodecahedral shape as stirring time of 30 min and microwave irradiation for 120 min at 373 K.