Large-scale design of cubic Ia3d mesoporous silica monoliths with high order, controlled pores, and hydrothermal stability

Periodically gyroidal cubic Ia3d monolithic silica with large cylindrical opened pores was fabricated using the instant direct-templating method in bulk lyotropic and microemulsion systems of P123 copolymers. The images of HOM-5 showed that, wagon-wheel-like channels organized in the large domain sizes, could be identified in the gyroid bi-continuous cubic Ia3d mesostructures. The direct-templating method involving the instantly performed liquid-crystal phase was found useful for rapid synthesis to achieve high fidelity of control over the mesophase topologies of the surfactants. Results showed that significant retention of structural ordering of HOM-5 was achieved under extreme hydrothermal treatment for long periods.