An amine-terminated dendrimer core molecule and two low molecular weight dendrimers were used as templates for silica materials prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate via a neutral templating route. The porous structures of the amorphous silica materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption. Interestingly, microporous and mesoporous regions were found in the same particles of material S2 prepared with a polyamidoamine-type template molecule. The effects of modification of the synthetic procedure on the final products are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.