Counter diffusion self-assembly synthesis of nanostructured silica membranes

This paper reports experimental efforts to synthesize ordered mesoporous silica membranes within macroporous ceramic supports by a new method of acid catalyzed counter diffusion self-assembly with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the surfactant. Synthesis experiments were conducted to examine the effects of pore size (0.16–22μm) and surface chemistry (hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity) of the support on the formation of mesporous silica …