abstract
Silica materials are used in a wide range of applications such as catalysis, photocatalysis, CO2 capture, and environmental remediation. These nanomaterials (NMs) have been extensively investigated since the advent of Stober silica. However, the absence of pores and small surface area of Stober silica limits its applications. Later, the discovery of MCM-41 type mesoporous silica using surfactants as structural directing agents became revolutionary in the field of silica NMs. This review focuses on the methods used for synthesizing mesoporous silica nanomaterials (NMs), especially mesoporous nanoparticles (NPs), and their applications in various fields including catalysis (i.e., support for nanoparticle catalysts) and environmental remediation (CO to CO2 conversion, volatile organic compound (VOC) removal, and CO2 capture). The current issues/challenges in realizing the practical applications of these conventional materials are also highlighted. This review also compares the characteristics and applications of MCM-41, SBA-15, and KCC-1 to demonstrate the effect of the morphology and pore architecture of silica on the properties of silica-based NMs. The scope for future developments in the synthesis and applications of silica materials with different pore sizes and morphologies is discussed.
keywords
FIBROUS NANO-SILICA; RECYCLABLE HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST; CO2 ADSORPTION PERFORMANCE; BRIDGED IONIC NETWORKS; PORE SBA-15 SILICA; SOLID-STATE NMR; HYDROGEN-SULFIDE; HIGHLY EFFICIENT; CARBON-DIOXIDE; PALLADIUM NANOPARTICLES
subject category
Chemistry
authors
Singh, B; Na, J; Konarova, M; Wakihara, T; Yamauchi, Y; Salomon, C; Gawande, MB
our authors
Baljeet Singh
Post-Doc FellowshipGroups
acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support by the Operational Program Research, Development, and Education European Regional Development Fund, (project no. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000754) from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic. This work was also supported by Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship (FT150100479), Linkage (LP180100429), and Foundation for Australia-Japan Studies (FAJS). This work was performed in part at the Queensland node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, a company established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy to provide nano and microfabrication facilities for Australia's researchers.