Combining high energy ball milling and liquid crystal templating method to prepare magnetic ordered mesoporous silica. A physico-chemical investigation.

The physico-chemical investigation of superparamagnetic MCM41 like materials prepared by the novel combination of high energy ball milling and a liquid crystal templating method is presented. Structural, morphological, textural, thermal, and preliminary magnetic characterization demonstrated the successful combination of the two synthesis techniques, avoiding the problems associated with the current methods used for the preparation of magnetic ordered mesoporous silica. MCM41 like materials with high specific surface area values (625-720 m₂ g^-1) and high mesopore volumes in the range 1-0.7 cm³ g^-1 were obtained. The ordered mesoporous structure and accessible pores were maintained after the inclusion of increasing amounts of the magnetic component in the silica structure. All the samples showed superparamagnetic behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]