Mesoporous silica is a form of silica which has pores in the range of 2-50 nanometers. The strong framework and tunable pore structure of mesoporous silicon dioxide makes it useful for various applications.

Applications of Mesoporous Silicon Dioxide
Mesoporous silicon dioxide finds use in various fields due to its tunable properties:

Drug Delivery
Mesoporous silicon dioxide is seeing increasing use as a drug delivery vehicle. Its tunable pore size allows for controlled release of drugs encapsulated within the pores. Drugs can be loaded and later released at the target site through diffusion or degradation of the silica matrix. This targeted drug delivery reduces side effects.

Catalysis
The high surface area and ordered pore structure of mesoporous silicon dioxide makes it an excellent support material for catalysis. Catalyst nanoparticles can be dispersed within the pores for applications like hydrocarbon transformation, fuel cells, and environmental remediation. The catalysts show improved activity, selectivity and easier separation.

Adsorption
Mesoporous silicon dioxide is used for adsorption of molecules and ions due to its large pore volume and surface area. It finds use in water purification by adsorption of contaminants. It can also extract metal ions, dyes and organic compounds from solutions. The adsorbed materials can be later recovered by changes in pH or temperature.

Chromatography
In chromatography techniques like gas chromatography and HPLC, Global Mesoporous Silica is used as a stationary phase. This increases column efficiency due to mass transfer into the high surface area pores. Functionalized mesoporous silicon dioxide allows for selective separation of molecules based on their interaction with the surface.

Sensors
The optical, electrical and mechanical properties of mesoporous silicon dioxide can be tuned for sensor applications. Changes in refractive index upon analyte adsorption or release of loaded dyes/indicators can be used for optical sensing. Pore loading of electrical components leads to conductometric or piezoelectric sensing.

Global Market Analysis
Rapid growth of the pharmaceutical, biomedical and environmental remediation industries is a key driver for market growth. Stringent regulations regarding water treatment and increasing focus on targeted drug delivery will further boost demand. Asia Pacific currently dominates the market and is projected to grow at over 10% annually due to large-scale manufacturing in India and China. North America follows with a high research focus and expanding catalysis applications. The mesoporous silicon dioxide industry is highly competitive with key players investing in R&D to introduce newer products. Product innovation in terms of tailored pore size, functional groups and morphology will be crucial for players to sustain market share.

Common Types
Some of the commonly used types of mesoporous silicon dioxide include:

MCM-41
MCM-41 was one of the first silica frameworks synthesized with a hexagonal arrangement of uniform cylindrical pores between 2-10 nm. It finds application in catalysis, adsorption and drug delivery.

SBA-15
SBA-15 has a hexagonally arranged cylindrical structure like MCM-41 but with larger pore diameters of 5-30 nm. The thicker pore walls provide higher mechanical stability and hydrothermal resistance.

HMS
HMS (hexagonal mesoporous silica) has a hexagonal structure with smaller pore diameters of 2-5 nm. It shows faster adsorption kinetics due to the small pore size and ordered structure.

KCC-1
KCC-1 has a cubic structure with three-dimensional interconnected channels between 5-30 nm. The uniform 3D pore network provides low mass transfer resistance.

Applications of Common Types
The common types of mesoporous silicon dioxide find applications based on their pore properties:

- MCM-41: Mainly used in catalysis of hydrocarbon transformations and environmental remediation due to the uniform cylindrical pores.

- SBA-15: Employed in HPLC columns and adsorption of large dye molecules due to thicker walls and large pore size.

- HMS: Used for drug encapsulation and controlled release utilizing the smaller pore channels.

- KCC-1: Shows potential in fuel cell catalysis and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering taking advantage of the high interconnectivity.

Synthesis Methods
The typical methods used for synthesis of mesoporous silicon dioxide include:

Sol-Gel Process
The sol-gel process involves hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) or similar silicate precursors in the presence of surfactants like CTAB. Controlling reaction conditions yields frameworks with uniform pores.

Emulsion Technique
An oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion is used along with TEOS and surfactants. The interfaces direct framework formation. Morphologies not attainable by sol-gel like rods and fibers can be synthesized.

Hydrothermal Synthesis
Precursor solutions are sealed and heated under autogenous pressure. The thermal energy allows rearrangement into more ordered structures with thicker walls compared to other methods.
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