The formation of hierarchical, multimodal porosity materials with controlled shape and size of pores is the essential challenge in materials science. Properties of silica materials depend largely on different features: crystal structure, dispersity, surface composition, and porosity as well as the method of preparation and possible modification. In this paper, multimodal silicas obtained using different additives are presented. A-50 and A-380 aerosils and wide-porous SiO₂ milled at 300 rpm were used as the additives in the sol stage at 20 °C, the sol–gel stage followed by hydrothermal modification (HTT) at 200 °C, or in the mechanochemical treatment (MChT) process. The characterizations were made by application of N₂ adsorption/desorption, SEM imaging, quasi-isothermal thermogravimetry (Q-TG), dynamic thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTG/DTA), and cryoporometry differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. Results showed that such a one-step preparation method is convenient and makes it possible to obtain multimodal silicas of differentiated porous structures and surface chemistry.

The titanium phosphate-synthesized sol–gel method was subjected to the mechanochemical treatment in a planetary ball mill Pulverisette 6 in air or water environment or the hydrothermal treatment at 873 K or 1073 K. The properties of such modified/treated samples were examined using the XRF, XRD, TGA, static light scattering, FTIR Raman and adsorption/desorption of N₂ methods. The mechanochemical treatment of xerogel samples leads to a small decrease in water contents in the sample, but the structure remains amorphous. Additionally, during milling of the sample aggregation of titanium phosphate particles and a decrease in specific surface area were observed. The hydrothermal treatment of the xerogel sample leads to a crystal product composed of titanium oxide phosphate hydrate, titanium oxide phosphate and titanium dioxide. The TGA analysis confirms the presence of titanium oxide phosphate hydrate. The hydrothermally treated titanium phosphate samples are monodispersed and have a larger specific surface area than the initial sample.