Surfactant-Directed Modulation of SBA 15: Insights into Surface Area, Porosity, and Morphology

Mesoporous silica now-a-days has emerged as a versatile material for nanotechnology and many other applications because of its high surface area and ordered pore architecture. However, careful tuning of synthesis parameters to maximize porosity and surface area is crucial for achieving optimal performance. In this work, SBA 15 type mesoporous silica was synthesized via sol-gel method, using a non-ionic surfactant Pluronic P-123 as the structure-directing template and tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silica precursor. The concentration of surfactant template was systematically varied from 500 to 2500 times its critical micellar concentration (i.e. 0.002 mM). Synthesized SBA 15 samples were then characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption analysis to evaluate the surface area, pore size, and pore volume, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for structural confirmation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for morphological evaluation. SEM and TEM images indicated that increasing P-123 concentration led to a transition toward cylindrical morphologies, more regular particle size, and improved particle yield, while N2 adsorption isotherms revealed larger pore diameters and higher surface areas. The results obtained emphasize the critical role of surfactant concentration for tailoring the structural and textural properties of SBA 15, thereby offering useful suggestions for its application in catalysis, adsorption, and drug delivery. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 74(1): 54-61, 2026 (January)