Magnetically induced orientation of mesochannels in 2D-hexagonal mesoporous silica films

Mesoporous silica films with uniaxially oriented mesochannels were prepared by dip coating under a steady-homogeneous magnetic field parallel to a substrate. The effect of a strong magnetic field (12 Tesla) on the preparation of mesoporous silica films was systematically investigated by using two kinds of templates. When mesoporous silica films with a 2D-hexagonal structure were prepared by using an ionic CTAB (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide)-based precursor solution, the in-plane XRD results of the films proved that the mesochannels were slightly oriented parallel to the magnetic field. When mesoporous silica films were prepared by using a non-ionic P123 (polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide triblock copolymer)-based precursor solution, the directional distribution of the mesochannels became narrow (FWHM was about 20°). The use of large molecules such as triblock copolymers leads to successful magnetically induced orientation. The spatial orientations of the magnetically aligned mesochannels are elucidated by -2 XRD, in-plane XRD, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM).