Study of the initial formation stages of the mesoporous material SBA-15 using spin-labeled block co-polymer templates

The initial formation stages of the Mesoporous material SBA-15 by using spin-labeled block co-polymer templates was investigated. The formation of SBA-15 was discussed on the molecular level, with emphasis on the early stages of the reaction, when interaction between silica precursors and the Pluronic micelles occured. The combination of in situ X-band electron parmagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and electron spin-echo envelop modulation (ESEEM) experiments of Pluronic spin probes with different PEO and PPO chain lengths were used to achieve the mesoporous material. The result show that the silica polymerization propagated outward from the core/corona interface.