One synthesis strategy of mesoporous silica utilizes a so-called co-structure-directing agent believed to serve as a link between the silica network and the structure-directing amphiphile. This synthesis strategy, discovered and developed by Shunai Che and her group in Shanghai, has proven to be very versatile and a large number of structures can be obtained by small variations of the synthesis parameters. In this project we are investigating the molecular interactions involved and the role of the co-structure-directing agent.

People: Ruiyu Lin, Karen Edler (University of Bath and guest Professor at Lund University), Shunai Che (Shanghai Jiatong University, China), Daniel Topgaard, Lennart Piculell, and Viveka Alfredsson.

Contact person:Viveka Alfredsson