Progress in Pore-Size Control of Mesoporous MCM-41 Molecular Sieve Using Surfactant Having Different Alkyl Chain Lengths and Various Organic Auxiliary Chemicals

Pore-size control of mesoporous silica MCM-41 molecular sieve is described on the basis of the use of surfactant having different alkyl chain lengths and various organic auxiliary chemicals during the hydrothermal synthesis process. The BJH pore diameter of MCM-41 can be tuned from 1.6 to 4.2 nm using single or mixture of two surfactant(s) with alkyl chain lengths varied from C₈ to C₂₂. By the addition of different organic auxiliary chemicals: 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene or tridecane into the synthesis medium, the BJH pore size of MCM-41 can be tailored up to 12.0 nm.