Mesoporous Silicate Materials in Sensing

Abstract

Mesoporous silicas, especially those exhibiting ordered pore systems and uniform pore diameters, have shown great potential for sensing applications in recent years. Morphological control grants them versatility in the method of deployment whether as bulk powders, monoliths, thin films, or embedded in coatings. High surface areas and pore sizes greater than 2 nm make them effective as adsorbent coatings for humidity sensors. The pore networks also provide the potential for immobilization of enzymes within the materials. Functionalization of materials by silane grafting or through co-condensation of silicate precursors can be used to provide mesoporous materials with a variety of fluorescent probes as well as surface properties that aid in selective detection of specific analytes. This review will illustrate how mesoporous silicas have been applied to sensing changes in relative humidity, changes in pH, metal cations, toxic industrial compounds, volatile organic compounds, small molecules and ions, nitroenergetic compounds, and biologically relevant molecules.

Evaluation of the SBA-15 materials ability to accumulation of 4-chlorophenol on carbon paste electrode

“…In this group of materials the SBA-15 silicas with hexagonal symmetry having wider mesopores receive much attention because of the possibility of application in the processes which are controlled by diffusion in pore system of a solid (Zhao et al 1998). The SBA-15 materials with well organized structure are very useful as adsorbents (Gibson 2014a, b), catalyst supports (Huirache-Acuña et al 2013), supports of active substances (Vallet-Regi et al 2007;Wang 2009) or sensors (Melde et al 2008). Moreover, the surface properties of these types of materials can be easily modified, e.g.…”

Development of Li-doped cubic P mesoporous silica MCM-48 as a novel humidity sensor

“…In recent years, Mesoporous silicates with variable pore structures and large speci c surface and pore volume have been extensively investigated to achieve high humidity sensitivity as well as potential appropriateness for humidity sensors [8]. As an adsorbent, catalyst [9], catalyst support, and the template for the synthesis of advanced nanostructures [10][11][12], MCM-48 may be a more potent candidate than MCM-41. Compared to 2D hexagonal MCM-41 in the M41S family, MCM-48 mesoporous silicas with 3-Dimensional (3D) cubic Ia 3d mesostructure have interesting mesostructure which consists of two interpenetrating continuous networks of chiral channels [13][14][15][16].…”

Visual Assay of Total Iron in Human Serum with Bathophenanthrolin Disulfonate-accommodated MCM-41

“…Not only enzymes, [1][2][3][4][5][6] but also small molecules, [7][8][9] have been accomodated into nanopores or chemically modified nanopores for a variety of purposes, including the design of highly sensitive molecular senisng systems. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] We reported lipid-loaded MCM-41 as a platform for highly sensitive electrochemical and fluorometric detection of analytes.…”