Large-Scale Aerosol-Assisted Synthesis of Thiol-Functionalized Mesoporous Organosilica

One-step synthesis of functional mesoporous organosilica particles having both ethane fragments and thiol groups are conducted by a spray drying technique using a laboratory-made apparatus. SEM (scanning electron microscope) images reveal that the spray-dried particles maintain spherical morphology regardless of the amount of embedded organic fragments. The compositions of the final products can be stoichiometrically controlled by simply changing the compositions of the initial precursor solutions, as is confirmed by (29)Si NMR measurement. From TEM (transmission electron microscope) observation, SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering) measurement, and N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, it is proved that mesoporous ordering is well maintained even though a large amount of organic fragments (i.e., Over 40% of silicon atoms are combined with organic fragments) are embedded in the frameworks. The EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer) mapping and Raman spectra confirms the existence of thiol groups within the spray-dried particles.