Synthesis of ordered mesoporous silicas from rice husk with tunable textural properties

Ordered mesoporous silicas were synthesized via cooperative self-assembly by using rice husk ash as silica source and P123 as main pore structure-directing agent. The incorporation of CTAB and BRIJ C10 as co-surfactant templates by different methods was investigated. Silicas with different pore size and mono-, bi- and trimodal porosity were obtained as a function of the co-surfactant used and the hydrolysis step performed. Low-angle XRD and TEM results confirmed the well-ordered pore structure of the synthesized silicas.