Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Recently we proposed that heterogenous nucleation is an important phenomenon for the preparation of ordered mesoporous materials. In this paper we further investigate the effect of colloidal particles on the nucleation process of mesoporous materials. Based on the change of the electrical mobilities of the particles in the surfactant solution, we suggest that the adsorption and co-adsorption of surfactant and ceramic precursors changes local structural and chemistry on the particle surfaces, and favors the nucleation events within these regions.