日本ゼオライト学会　刊行物 Publication of Japan Zeolite Association

Supermicroporous silicas（SMPSs）were synthesized through a concentrated reaction system by using tetraethoxysilane and conventional alkyltrimethylammonium halides as a structure-directing agent. The pore size was precisely tuned in a range from 0.7 to 1.5 nm at single-angstrom intervals. The adsorption capacity of SMPSs depended on their pore diameters. The micropore filling of the molecule that is highly enhanced with micropores smaller than 1 nm improves the dynamic adsorption performance. The optical properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluorophores were controlled by confined spaces of supermicropores in the SMPS matrix. When the pore diameter is close to the molecular size, solid-state fluorescence having a high quantum yield is achieved via the fluorophores in the confined spaces by suppressing the aggregation and the stabilization of the excited state. Quantum dots of oxide semiconductors were produced in the pores of SMPSs as templates. The thermochromic property and photocatalytic ability of the quantum dots were enhanced with the bandgap expansion in the confined space around 1 nm.