No abstract

The micellar state of Pluronic P123, which is a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b- poly(ethylene oxide) block polymer (EO(20)PO(70)EO(20)), has been investigated using SANS, SAXS, and differential scanning calorimetry under the conditions utilized in the synthesis of ordered mesoporous materials, such as SBA-15. The absolute intensity measurements, both with SANS and SAXS, have provided a detailed quantitative description of the P123 micelles in the framework of a simple core-shell spherical model. The model developed has been used to establish the structure of the copolymer micelles, including their size, shape, aggregation number and detailed composition, as well as the structural changes induced by varying reaction conditions. The effects of temperature, pH, acidic source and the addition of swelling agents (toluene and TMB) are reported and discussed.

The different steps of the self-assembly in solution of several 2D-hexagonal silica nanostructured SBA-15 materials have been investigated by SAXS and SANS in situ experiments. Unique quantitative information about the shape and size evolution upon time of the micellar aggregates throughout the self-assembly process is obtained using a complete model that describes well the scattering data for the various synthesis conditions. In all cases, before the precipitation of the material, the micelles shape changes from spherical to rod-like, where the structure of the rod-like micelles is linked to the structure of the 2D-hexagonal precipitated material. In addition, the kinetics of hydrolysis of the inorganic precursor (TEOS) has been determined by in situ Raman spectroscopy. More specifically, by comparing synthesis made with different acids (HNO(3), HBr, HCl, H(2)SO(4), and H(3)PO(4)), it is found that materials prepared using the "salting-out" anions (SO(4)(2-) and H(2)PO(4)(-)) are much better ordered than with the "salting-in" anions (NO(3)(-) and Br(-)).

The initial stages of SBA-15 synthesis have been studied by using in situ time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering with a synchrotron radiation source. The quantitative analysis of X-ray scattering and diffraction intensities allows the structures of intermediates to be identified at the different stages of SBA-15 synthesis. Following tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) addition, an intense small-angle scattering and an associated secondary maximum are observed, which are attributed to non-interacting surfactant template micelles encrusted with silicate species. After 25-30 min of the reaction, the broad scattering disappears and narrow Bragg diffraction peaks typical of hexagonally ordered structure are observed. The cylindrical micelles identified from X-ray scattering data appear to be the direct precursors of 2D hexagonal SBA-15 structure. Just after the formation of the SBA-15 hexagonal phase, the cylindrical micelles are only weakly linked in the hexagonal structure. As the synthesis proceeds, the solvent in the void volume between the cylindrical micelles is gradually replaced by more dense silicate species. The unit cell parameter of SBA-15 is progressively decreasing during the SBA-15 synthesis, which can be related to the condensation and densification of silicate fragments in the spaces between the cylinders. The volume fraction of the 2D hexagonally ordered phase is sharply growing during the first 2 h of the reaction. The inner core radius of SBA-15 material remains almost constant during the whole synthesis and is principally affected by the size of the poly(propylene oxide) inner core in the original cylindrical micelles.