Synthesis and Structural Identification of a Highly Ordered Mesoporous Organosilica with Large Cagelike Pores

Using 1,2-bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane as organosiloxane precursor and a triblock copolymer surfactant, Pluronic F127, as template, a highly ordered mesoporous organosilica with large cagelike pores has been successfully synthesized. Its structure was resolved to be 3-D cubic Fm3̄m by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The intergrowth of hexagonal close-packed and cubic close-packed phases was observed in this material. The effect of different siliceous precursors on the mesostructure was also investigated.