Physicochemical and textural properties of amino-functionalised mesoporous silica nanomaterials from different silica sources

In the study, we provided an insight into the nature of interaction that occurred at nanoscale level when preparing mesoporous nanomaterials with molecular scale cavity using either calcination or solvent extraction to remove the surfactant, improve the stability and suitability to surface functionalisation. By carrying out essential material characterisations, we were able to provide plausible empirical data and mechanism to support the morphological changes in the resulting mesoporous silica nanomaterials prepared from the two silica sources.