Synthesis of mesoporous silica helical fibers using a catanionic-neutral ternary surfactant in a highly dilute silica solution: biomimetic silicification.

Mesoporous silica helical fibers in many different shapes have been synthesized in a highly dilute silicate solution at pH approximately 2.0 by using CnTMAB-SDS-P123 (n = 14-18) ternary surfactant as a template. The mesoporous silica helical fibers possess a well-ordered hexagonal mesostructure, high surface area, and large pore volume.