Synthesis of 3-D ordered macroporous silicate using the template formed from monodispersed polystyrene latex

Based on the template formed from monodispersed polystyrene (PS) latex, a modified fast sol-gel process was employed to synthesize a three-dimensional (3-D) ordered macroporous silica material after removing the template by calcination at high temperature. It was indicated that there existed highly ordered packed pores within the whole silica material by SEM morphology observation. It was also found that the pores were interconnected. The pore size could be controlled mainly by varying the particle size of the latex ranging from 10¹ to 10² nm. The formation process of the ordered pores was also preliminarily discussed.