Synthesis of ordered three-dimensional large-pore mesoporous silica and its replication to ordered nanoporous carbon

Ordered three-dimensional (3D) large-pore mesoporous channels have been fabricated based on mesoporous silica SBA-15 and SBA-16 by a new synthesis strategy, which involves the introduction of organic co-solvents followed by a high temperature hydrothermal process. The previous small entrances (2.3 nm) for caged cubic mesoporous SBA-16 can be enlarged (up to 10.8 nm) by using this approach. These highly ordered mesoporous silica materials with large entrances have been verified to be suitable templates for the synthesis of ordered cubic carbon replicas with a novel ball-type pore structure.