Abstract: A process for preparing a 2D-hexagonal ordered mesoporous silica material with a substantially uniform pore size in the range of 4 to 30 nm comprising the steps of: preparing an aqueous solution comprising an alkali silicate solution; preparing an aqueous solution comprising a poly(alkylene oxide) triblock copolymer and a buffer with a pH greater than 2 and less than 8, adding said aqueous alkali silicate solution to said aqueous solution giving a pH greater than 2 and less than 8 and allowing a reaction between the components to take place at a temperature in the range of 10 to 100° C., and filtering off, drying and calcinating the reaction product to produce said 2D-hexagonal ordered mesoporous silica material with a substantially uniform pore size.