Synthesis of silica xerogels with highly distinct morphologies in the presence of imidazolium ionic liquids

This article describes the preparation of silica xerogels by the sol–gel technique, using tetraethoxysilane as precursor and hydrofluoric acid as catalyst, in the presence of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs). The applied ILs 1–3 contained the 1-monoethylene glycol monomethyl ether-3-methylimidazolium cation in combination with the methanesulfonate (1), tetrafluoroborate (2) and hexafluorophosphate (3) anions, respectively. Characterization of these materials was performed by photography, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The IL anion was identified as a powerful morphology controller. The methanesulfonate anion of IL 1 induced the formation of a compact lamellar monolith with an interlamellar distance of 1.5 nm and a flat surface. A free flowing powder of aggregated spherical particles was obtained in the presence of tetrafluoroborate IL 2, and the hexafluorophosphate anion of IL 3 induced the formation of porcelain like aggregates with honeycomb shapes.