Porous silica of self-similar morphology

New mesoporous silica was prepared using the template of the bicontinuous layered structure from the bicontinuous phase of poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether, H2O, and isooctane and the aqueous phase of 6 N HCl and teraethoxysilane. The synthesized silica was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), mercury porosimetry, and N-2 adsorption at 77 K. The structure had a fractal nature of which cluster fractal dimensions are 1.7 and 1.83 from SEM observation and SAXS, respectively. The silica structure was noncrystalline like MCM-41. The prepared silica was highly porous and had a wide range pores from ultramicropores to macropores.