The resulting mixture was aged at 100 ◦C for 72 h. The solid product was then filtered, washed, dried at 100 ◦C, and calcined in air at 550 ◦C for 8 h. For preparation of pore-expanded mesoporous silicas, butanol or mesitylene was used as a swelling agent. To the mixtures of P123 and HCl solution, 0.54 g of 1-butanol (Sigma–Aldrich, 99.4%) or 0.36 g of mesitylene (Aldrich, 98%) was added, respectively, to the given Pluronic P123. The remaining synthesis steps are identical to those noted above.