Photoluminescence study of mesoporous MCM-41 and Ti-grafted MCM-41

Photoluminescence combined with diffuse reflectance UV—Vis spectroscopy was used to characterise both the pure siliceous MCM-41 and Ti-MCM-41 containing tetrahedral Ti(IV) species anchored onto the inner walls of the siliceous MCM-41. Both Ti-MCM-41 and MCM-41 showed complex photoemission signals and this study allows, for the first time, the distinction of the emission signals of tetrahedral Ti9IV) ions from those due to silica surface centres.     

Dissipative water intrusion in hydrophobic MCM-41 type materials

Texture-related features of water intrusion in hydrophobised MCM-41 silicas render these materials especially suitable for energy dissipation in mechanical dampers.     

Formation Process of MCM-41 Precursor and Porous Texture of MCM-41

The formation process of the MCM-41 precursors (silicate/surfactant complex) was investigated on the basis of the pH titration curves of Na(4)SiO(4) in the presence of [C(16)H(33)N(CH(3))(3)]Cl. Measurements of the pH titration curves were carried out using the computer-controlled gravimetric titrator constructed in our laboratory. The white precipitate (MCM-41 precursor) was abruptly formed at pH 11.1 (298 K) and at pH 9.9 (343 K). Formation of the MCM-41 precursor can be explained by coagulation of the rod-like micelle colloids whose surface is covered by the condensed silicate anions of (HSiO(3))(n)(n-). The porous texture of the MCM-41 samples whose precursors were synthesized under different conditions was analyzed on the basis of the adsorption isotherms of nitrogen at 77 K. It has been shown that the MCM-41 sample whose precursor was prepared at pH 9.9 and 343 K shows one sharp peak (r(p) = 1.65 nm) in the pore size distribution curve, but the MCM-41 samples whose precursors were prepared at pH 6.5-5.0 and 343 K give two peaks (r(p) = 1.66 nm and r(p) = 2.12-2.36 nm). The appearance of the second peak (r(p) = 2.12-2.36 nm) has been considered to be in connection with the destruction of the MCM-41 precursor into small fragments in acidic medium. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Metastability of MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41

The apparent stability of MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 in water was appraised in a series of solubility experiments. MCM-41 is a siliceous, mesoporous material of hexagonal symmetry and exceptionally high surface area first synthesized in 1992. The dissolution experiments were carried out at several solid/water ratios: 1/200, 1/100, and 1/75. Results indicated that MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 are more soluble than amorphous silica at ambient temperatures. Using standard thermodynamic data, a minimum Gibbs free energy of formation of -847.9 kJ/mol for MCM-41 was calculated compared to -848.85 kJ/mol for amorphous silica and -856.3 kJ/mol for quartz. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of recovered solids indicated a progressive loss of crystallinity in MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 over the 79 day dissolution experiment. BET nitrogen surface area analyses of recovered solids revealed no appreciable change in the surface area of either material after 79 days of reaction in water. Field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) images taken of the 79 day MCM-41 sample showed some degradation of the initial structure-fine, worm-like particles.     

CO_2 adsorption performance of different amine-based siliceous MCM-41 materials

A series of amine-based adsorbents were synthesized using siliceous MCM-41 individually impregnated with four different amines(ethylenediamine(EDA),diethylenetriamine(DETA),tetraethylenepentamine(TEPA) and pentaethylenehexamine(PEHA)) to study the effect of amine chain length and loading weight on their CO2 adsorption performances in detail.The adsorbents were characterized by FT-IR,elemental analysis,and thermo-gravimetric analysis to confirm their structure properties.Thermo-gravimetric analysis was also used to evaluate the CO2 adsorption performance of adsorbents.Longer chain amine-based materials can achieve higher amine loadings and show better thermal stability.The CO2 adsorption capacities at different temperatures indicate that the CO2 adsorption is thermodynamically controlled over EDAMCM41 and DETA-MCM41,while the adsorption over TEPA-MCM41 and PEHA-MCM41 is under kinetic control at low temperature.The chain length of amines affects the CO2 adsorption performance and the adsorption mechanism significantly.The results also indicate that CO2 adsorption capacity can be enhanced despite of high operation temperatures,if appropriate amines(TEPA and PEHA) are applied.However,adsorbents with short chain amine exhibit higher adsorption and desorption rates due to the collaborative effect of rapid reaction mechanisms of primary amines and less diffusion resistance of shorter chain length amines.     

Thermogravimetry applied to characterization of fly ash-based MCM-41 mesoporous materials

The thermogravimetry (TG) was used for characterization of the fly ash (FA)-based MCM-41 mesoporous materials. MCM-41 mesoporous materials were synthesized using silica extracts from different FA. The synthesis of MCM-41 from FA was carried out by the hydrothermal method using the supernatants of coal FA (in the form of sodium silicate) and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants as the structure-directing agents. On the basis of the data obtained from the TG analysis, thermal behaviour of FA-based MCM-41 mesoporous materials was assessed. This study has established the range of temperatures corresponding to the desorption of water, decomposition of the surfactant and condensation of silanol, thereby making the overall quality assessment of FA-based MCM-41 mesoporous materials.     

Novel coassembly route to Cu-SiO2 MCM-41-like mesoporous materials

A series of mesostructured Cu-SiO2 composites have been synthesized with sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) and cuprammonia nitrate (Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2) respectively used as Si and Cu sources. The synthetic procedures were conducted at room temperature, and cetyltrimethylammonia bromide was used as a template. Under our experimental conditions, ordered mesoporous Cu-SiO2 composites could be obtained with a copper content up to 16.8 wt %. Average pore diameters (2.80-3.15 nm), wall thickness (1.30-2.20 nm), and specific surface area (1020-690 m2/g) are found to vary linearly with copper content (0-16.8 wt %). Results of thermal gravimetry-differential thermal analysis reveal the collapse temperature of the order structure starts at approximately 1250 K for mesoporous Cu-SiO2 with 16.8 wt % copper content. As indicated by the outcomes of inductively coupled plasma and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies, copper is mainly incorporated inside the pore wall rather than embedded on the wall surface. Copper species strongly interact with silica, and calcination at high temperatures cannot cause phase separation between silica and copper oxide. Cu status in mesoporous Cu-SiO2 composites is similar to that in copper silicate in neighboring structures. Based on the results, a S+ I- I+ I- mechanism is proposed in which copper entities are surrounded by silicon species during synthesis of the mesostructured composite.     

Spectroscopic monitoring for the formation of mesoporous MCM-41 materials upon microwave irradiation

The mesoporous MCM-41 materials were prepared in very short crystallization time (∼40 min) upon microwave irradiation in comparison with conventional hydrothermal heating method. With both microwave irradiation and hydrothermal heating, the MCM-41 formation via supramolecular templating method has been monitored by fluorescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Pyrene as a fluorescence probe and 4-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecyl)ammonium-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinyloxy iodide (CAT16) as a spin probe were respectively dissolved into the micelle solutions to form the MCM-41 precursor gels. These probes allow the monitoring of the supramolecular interaction between the anionic silicate species and the cationic surfactant molecules during the MCM-41 formation. Analyses of fluorescence and ESR spectra indicate that the fast increase of hydrophobicity and microviscosity at the solubilzation sites of the probes results from the accelerated condensation of silicates onto the micelle surface upon microwave irradiation. The fluorescence change from the silicate L-center in the MCM-41 precursor gel also probes the fast silicate condensation upon microwave irradiation. It seems that the fast formation of MCM-41 upon microwave irradiation is ascribed to the microwave-susceptible head groups of surfactant molecules in addition to fast dissolution of the precursor gel.     

Oxodiperoxo molybdenum modified mesoporous MCM-41 materials for the catalytic epoxidation of cyclooctene

A hybrid heterogeneous catalyst system, which has been synthesized by covalently anchoring oxodiperoxo molybdenum chelate complexes onto the surface of mesoporous MCM-41, is highly active and truly heterogeneous for the liquid-phase epoxidation of cyclooctene with tBuOOH as the oxygen source.     

An overview of studies on the highly dispersed uranium oxide species occluded within mesoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48 host materials

In this article we have consolidated our recent studies on anchoring of uranyl groups and encapsulation of highly dispersed nano-particles of -U₃O₈ in mesoporous MCM samples. The size of uranium oxide crystallites and the binding of uranyl groups at framework sites of host matrix depended on the preparation method, viz. wet impregnation, exchange of template cations, and the hydrothermal route. These uranium species contributed individually to the catalytic oxidation of organic molecules, such as methanol, toluene and benzyl alcohol; the uranyl groups playing a more important role at lower reaction temperatures. Also, the size and the lattice oxygen of uranium oxide crystallites played a vital role, not only in the lowering of reaction onset temperature but also in deciding the nature and the reactivity of the transient surface species formed during the oxidation of above mentioned organics. For instance, the results of in situ IR spectroscopy experiments have shown that while larger-size U₃O₈ crystallites help in the growth of certain oxymethylene (–OCH₂) and polymerized oxymethylene (–OCH₂)_n species, adsorption of methanol on smaller size particles helped in the additional formation of formate-type complexes. Thus, a relationship was found between the size of uranium oxide crystallites, the nature of the transient species formed and the catalytic conversion of methanol to form CO₂, CO and methane. In addition, the uranyl ions anchored within the pore system of host matrix are found to serve as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for the sunlight-assisted deep oxidation of organic molecules in the vapor phase and at room temperature. The reaction mechanisms, accounting for the catalytic properties of occluded UO_x species without and in the presence of radiation, are discussed in the light of the above mentioned results.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ce-Containing MCM-41

SUMMARY. The cerium-containing MCM-41 (Ce-MCM-41) has been synthesized with size in the micrometer range by direct hydrothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy shows the regular hexagonal array of uniform channel characteristics of MCM-41. Five peaks were detected in the lov-angle XRD patterns,an interplanar spacing d100 = 40.6 A was obtained that can be indexed on a hexagonal unit cell with a0 = 46.9 A. Nitrogen adsorption isotherm at 77 K revealed a surface area of 920 m2/g, pore size of 26.2 A and wall thickness of 18.1 A. A cell contraction of 2.6 A upon calcination was observed. The spectroscopic studies indicate that the synthesized sample is with MCM-41 structure and Ce is in the framework position. A weak Lewis acidity was indicated by infrared spectra of pyridine adsorption. The synthesized Ce-MCM-41 exhibits fairly catalytic activity for the NO reduction by CO.     

Adsorption of simple gases in MCM-41 materials: the role of surface roughness

This paper reports the development and testing of atomistic models of silica MCM-41 pores. Model A is a regular cylindrical pore having a constant section. Model B has a surface disorder that reproduces the morphological features of a pore obtained from an on-lattice simulation that mimics the synthesis process of MCM-41 materials. Both models are generated using a similar procedure, which consists of carving the pore out of an atomistic silica block. The differences between the two models are analyzed in terms of small angle neutron scattering spectra as well as adsorption isotherms and isosteric heat curves for Ar at 87 K and Xe at 195 K. As expected for capillary condensation in regular nanopores, the Ar and Xe adsorption/desorption cycles for model A exhibit a large hysteresis loop having a symmetrical shape, i.e., with parallel adsorption and desorption branches. The features of the adsorption isotherms for model B strongly depart from those observed for model A. Both the Ar and Xe adsorption branches for model B correspond to a quasicontinuous pore filling that involves coexistence within the pore of liquid bridges and gas nanobubbles. As in the case of model A, the Ar adsorption isotherm for model B exhibits a significant hysteresis loop; however, the shape of the loop is asymmetrical with a desorption branch much steeper than the adsorption branch. In contrast, the adsorption/desorption cycle for Xe in model B is quasicontinuous and quasireversible. Comparison with adsorption and neutron scattering experiments suggests that model B is too rough at the molecular scale but reproduces reasonably the surface disorder of real MCM-41 at larger length scales. In contrast, model A is smooth at small length scales in agreement with experiments but seems to be too ordered at larger length scales.     

Effect of trivalent elements on the thermal and hydrothermal stability of MCM-41 mesoporous molecular materials

Effect of trivalent elements on the thermal and hydrothermal stability of MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve materials has been investigated. Al(III) decreases the thermal and hydrothermal stability of MCM-41 materials, whereas La(III) and Fe(III), especially Fe(III), can improve the thermal and hydrothermal stability. Benzene adsorption and IR spectra suggested that thick channel wall and the fewer structural defect sites in MCM-41 would enhance the thermal and hydrothermal stability of MCM-41.     

Influence of the incorporated metal on template removal from MCM-41 type mesoporous materials

Al-modified MCM-41, La-modified MCM-41, and Ce-modified MCM-41 mesoporous materials were prepared with different molar ratios (Si/M = 10; 25; 50; 100 and 200) at room temperature. The materials were characterized using XRD, BET–BJH, and TG–DTA. The XRD showed four peaks, due to the ordered hexagonal array of parallel silica tubes, which could be indexed as (100), (110), (200), and (210), assuming a hexagonal unit cell. The surface area decreased as the concentration of the metal incorporated in the material increased. The thermal stability of the materials was around 650 °C. The CeO₂ phase made the mass transfer process more difficult, hindering Hofmann degradation and favoring oxidation.     

结晶硅酸盐/硅铝酸盐介孔材料MCM-41的结构特征与应用性能

由于独特的结构特征及表面性质，MCM－41一问世即受到广泛的关注。但由于结构稳定性不足等原因，近年来关于MCM－41的研究骤然降温。本文从“扬长克短”和“扬长避短”的角度出发，对MCM－41作为催化剂、载体材料、吸附材料及在无机－有机复合材料中的潜在应用进行了综述。     

Cerium modified MCM-41 nanocomposite materials via a nonhydrothermal direct method at room temperature

Ce-containing MCM-41 materials were prepared via a direct, nonhydrothermal method at room temperature from tetra-ethoxysilane, n-hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, ammonia solution, and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate precursors. Composite materials containing the nominated ratios of 5 and 10% (w/w) CeO2/MCM-41 were targeted. The obtained materials were investigated by TGA, DSC, FTIR, diffuse reflectance UV-vis, XRD, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, and SEM. Results indicated the insertion of cerium ions in tetrahedral environment in the framework of MCM-41. BET surface area amounting to 824 and 726 m2/g; total pore volume amounting to 0.427 and 0.515 cm3/g; and narrow pore size distribution maximizing at 22.5 and 23.7 A, respectively were obtained for the 5 and 10% CeO2/MCM-41 calcined composites. SEM showed a spherical type morphology for the composites which is rather similar to their blank MCM-41, and no clear ceria aggregates were observed on the external surfaces of composites spherical particles. Thus, the adopted method allows the persistence of MCM-41 texture with cerium inserts in the framework of MCM-41 and/or forms finely divided ceria nanoparticles on the wall of MCM-41 materials. Moreover, stabilization of any formed ceria nanoparticles was attributed to the short nonintersecting porous nature of MCM-41 matrix, which hinders their aggregation upon calcinations.     

不同有机胺修饰MCM-41的CO2吸附性能和热稳定性

将乙二胺(EDA,60 g/mol)、四乙烯五胺(TEPA,189 g/mol)和两种聚乙烯亚胺600(PEI600g/mol; PEI1800g/mol)分别负载在MCM-41上制备氨基功能化介孔材料,研究其对CO₂的吸附性能和热稳定性.结果表明,除了EDA-MCM41,其他三种材料随着胺分子量增大CO₂吸附性能下降,但是热稳定性却有所提高,其中,TEPA-MCM41的吸附容量最大,达到2.7 mmol/g.同时发现,乙二胺在制备过程中随溶剂挥发而难以完全负载在MCM-41上.在纯N₂气氛和再生温度100 ℃条件下,经10次循环实验后,TEPA-MCM41的吸附能力下降了7.4%,而PEI600-MCM41和PEI1800-MCM41吸附能力保持不变,且质量变化在1%以内,表现出良好的再生稳定性.采用80%CO₂/20%N₂对吸附饱和的材料进行再生,四种材料的再生温度将提高到160 ℃以上,高分子量PEI600-MCM41和PEI1800-MCM41相比于TEPA-MCM41具有更好的热稳定性.     

MCM-41表面新戊基锆和氧化锆的制备

首次在高真空系统中利用Ｚr[CH2C(CH3)3]4与表面羟基的反应把－Ｚr[CH2C(CH3)3]2基团接枝在介孔硅胶ＭＣＭ－４１的表面上,经进一步氧化和水解得到了表面富锆ＭＣＭ－４１材料,采用元素分析、ＦＴＩＲ、固态ＮＭＲ、Ｘ射线粉末射及吡啶化学吸附等分别表征了材料的组成及性质,初步研究表明接枝法制备的ＺrMCM-41比水热法合成的样品有更好的吸附和催化性能。     

Characterization of methylated nanoscale MCM-41 material

In this study, nanoscale MCM-41 molecular sieve was prepared under a basic condition by a hydrothermal method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template and tetraethyl orthosilicate as a silica source. Methylated nanoscale MCM-41 molecular sieve was prepared from the nanoscale MCM-41 by post-synthesis method using trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) as coupling agent. The product was characterized by means of element analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique at 77 K, scanning electron microscopic (SEM), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Powder XRD showed that the framework of the molecular sieve was well retained and the degree of ordering of the methylated MCM-41 decreases. IR spectra and the low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique suggested that methyl was successfully grafted to the inner surface of the methylated MCM-41 and the mesoporous channels of the methylated MCM-41 were still maintained. Scanning electron microscopic results showed that the average size of the methylated MCM-41 prepared was 112 nm. Differential thermal analysis showed that the prepared material has preferable thermal stability and the methylated MCM-41 can be stable at 903 °C.