Evidence for vesicle formation during the synthesis of catanionic templated mesoscopically ordered silica as studied by Cryo-TEM

The formation of vesicles during the synthesis of mesostructured surfactant-silicate materials has been evidenced for the first time by applying in situ Cryo-TEM. A mixture of anionic and cationic surfactants was used to fine-tune the packing parameter of the supramolecular surfactant assembly. It is shown that the vesicles are formed during the course of the reaction and suggested to be a consequence of silicate condensation reactions. Furthermore, the study confirms earlier suggestions that the silicate-surfactant micelles are capable of solubilizing hydrophobic additives during the early stages of the reaction.