Simple synthesis route to monodispersed SBA-15 silica rods.

A simple, flexible, reproducible, high-yielding (ca. 100%) synthesis of hexagonally facetted SBA-15 straight rods with uniform sizes (ca. 1.5 x 0.4 mum) under static conditions without using inorganic salts is provided. This method affords rodlike particles with temperature-dependent pore sizes ranging from 5.8 to 12.5 nm but with similar external dimensions. This work shows that in order to prepare short monodispersed SBA-15 rods, (i) the absence of stirring is essential, (ii) the temperature of the first stage should not exceed 60 degrees C, and (iii) addition of inorganic salts is not required.