Table 3.
Overview of MSNs exploited to have different particle size and pore structure.
| Silica source | Surfactant | Particle size (TEM, nm) | Pore structure | Synthesis pH condition | Size control strategy | Surfactant removal method | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEOS | C16TAB | 60–100 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NaOH) | Quench by water dilution and neutralisation | Calcination | 78 |
| TEOS | C16TAB | 100–2500 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NaOH) | Dilute conditions | Calcination | 79 |
| TEOS | C16TAB | 200–250 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NaOH) | Dilute conditions | Ethanolic acid extraction | 80 |
| TEOS | C16TAB | 30–280 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NH4OH) | Dilute conditions and NH4OH concentration adjustment | Ethanolic acid extraction | 81 |
| TEOS | C16TAB | 100–300 | Disordered | Neutral | Propanetriol as co-surfactant and co-solvent | Ethanolic acid extraction | 82 |
| TMOS | C16TAB | <20 | Disordered | In basic (TEA) | Ratio of C16TAB/Si | Dialysis in ethanol/acetic acid solution | 83 |
| TEOS and APTES | C16TAB | 100–220 | Ordered 3D cubic | Basic (NH4OH) | Dye incorporation and pore expander addition | Ethanolic acid extraction | 84 |
| TEOS | C16TAB | 42 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NH4OH) | Dilute condition and PEG modification with hydrothermal treatment | Ethanolic acid/salt extraction | 85 |
| TEOS | C16TAB, n-dodecylamin | 60–740 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NH4OH) | Dilute and co-solvent conditions | Calcination | 86 |
| Sodium silicate | CnTAX (n = 14, 16, 18; X = Br, Cl) | 30–70 | Disordered | Basic (NaOH) | low concentration of CnTMAX-sodium silicate | Calcination | 87 |
| TEOS | C16TAC | 20–500 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NH4OH) | Pluronic F127 controls particle growth | Calcination | 88 |
| TMOS 18) | CnTAC (n = 14, 16,18) | 150–860 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Basic (NaOH) | Co-solvent/water ratio | Calcination | 89 |
| TEOS | Pluronic F127, P65, P123 and F108 | 100–300 | Ordered 3D cubic | Acidic (HCl) | Fluorocarbon surfactant suppresses particle growth | Calcination | 90 |
| TEOS | C16TAC | 45–150 | Worm like | Basic (TEA) | TEOS/TEA ratio | Ethanolic extraction | 91 |
| TEOS P123 | Pluronic | 50–300 | Ordered 2D hexagonal | Acidic (HCl) | H2O amount and salt addition | Calcination | 92 |
MSN: mesoporous silica nanoparticle; TEOS: tetraethyl orthosilicate; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TMOS: tetramethoxysilane; APTES: (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane; TEA: tetraethylammonium; PEG: polyethylene glycol; 2D: two-dimensional; 3D: three-dimensional.