Sodium silicate

The templating agent Pluronic P123 (MW ∼ 5800 g mol⁻¹), sulfuric acid (95–98%), and methylene blue (MB) (98%) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (Merck, Germany). Citric acid (≥99.5%, anhydrous), trisodium citrate dihydrate (≥99%), hydrochloric acid (37%), hydrogen peroxide (30%), potassium permanganate (≥99%), and sodium silicate (7.8–8.5 wt% Na₂O, 25.8–28.5 wt% SiO₂) were purchased from Carl Roth GmbH + Co. KG (Germany). Graphite (KS6) and phosphoric acid (85%) were acquired from Lonza (Switzerland) and Chemsolute (Th. Geyer GmbH + Co. KG, Germany), respectively. Sodium hydrogen carbonate (ACS Reag. Ph Eur), sodium hydroxide, acetic acid (100%, p.a.), 1-butanol (100%), and toluene (≥99%) were obtained from Merck. Deionized water (DIW) was used for all syntheses.

Pluronic P123 (M_W ∼ 5800 g mol⁻¹) and Tween 80 were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (Merck, Germany). Citric acid (≥99.5%, anhydrous), trisodium citrate dihydrate (≥99%), and sodium silicate (7.8–8.5 wt% Na₂O, 25.8–28.5 wt% SiO₂) were purchased from Carl Roth (Germany). Hydraulic oil Tellus Oil 46 with a kinematic viscosity of 46 mm² s⁻¹ (40 °C) was acquired from Shell (Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH, Germany). Deionized water (DIW) was used for the synthesis and testing.