Preparation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoribbons and Nanoflakes with Short Pore Channels Using a Chiral Amphiphile

A chiral cationic low-molecular-weight amphiphile, derived from L-alanine, was synthesized. Templated by the self-assemblies of the amphiphile, sol gel reactions were carried out to control the morphologies and pore architectures of mesoporous silicas. The results reveal that the morphologies and pore architectures of mesoporous silicas are sensitive to the reaction conditions, such as temperature and the concentration of NaOH. When the reaction was carried out at 25 degrees C, right-handed coiled mesoporous silica nanoribbons with short pore channels were formed, most of which coiled tightly to form nanorods. However, at 80 degrees C, mesoporous silica nanoflakes with vertical pore channels were obtained.