Flexible and Versatile Soft Templates for Mesoporous Silicas and Organosilicas Based on Pluronic Block Copolymer Surfactants and their Mixtures
In this dissertation, the work will be discussed that was focused on the synthesis of consolidated periodic mesoporous materials such as 2-D hexgonal ordered mesoporous silicas (SBA-15) as well as single-micelle-templated silica and organosilica nanotubes and nanospheres using triblock copolymer surfactants and their mixtures in the presence of a swelling agent. The introductory section, Chapter 1, will address the current state of the tunability of single-micelle-templated silica and organosilica nanotubes and will compare it with the work presented in this dissertation on the use of a dual-surfactant templating systems. Chapter 2 of the dissertation discusses transmission electron microscopy characterization of Pluronic surfactant templated nanotubes and 2-D hexagonal ordered mesoporous silicas based on tilt-series imaging at different angles. Chapter 3 shows the effects of stirring rate on fragmentation in silica nanotubes and the resulting nanosphere contamination in the synthesis that utilizes a single Pluronic surfactant. In Chapter 4, the synthesis of ultra-large-pore SBA-15 silica, nanotubes with adjustable pore diameter with the use of a dual-surfactant system will be discussed. Chapter 5 utilizes similar system as discussed in Chapter 4 to synthesize a variety of organosilica nanotubes with different organosilane precursors. Chapter 6 discusses the synthesis of microemulstion v droplet-templated silica and organosilica nanospheres of large size. The dissertation end with same conclusions.
Polymer Chemistry, Mesoporous, Silica, Nanomaterials, Template, Pluronic
City University of New York - Graduate Center
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York