The most common method for synthesizing mesoporous silica involves the sol-gel process, using surfactants like cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as structure-directing agents. The silica source, often tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), is hydrolyzed and condensed around the surfactant micelles. The surfactant is then removed by calcination or solvent extraction, leaving behind the mesoporous structure.
