New mesoporous silica/carbon composites by in situ transformation of silica template in carbon/silica nanocomposite

Hard template-based fabrication of mesoporous carbon unavoidably goes through the removal process of the template to generate template-free carbon replica, including troublesome disposal of template waste often accompanied by toxic etchant, which not only increases the fabrication cost of materials but also raises serious environmental concerns. As a novel strategy to overcome such problem, a direct in situ synthesis approach using silica waste in carbon/silica nanocomposite as a silica source and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a porogen under basic condition is reported in this study for the generation of a new composite composed of mesoporous MCM-41 silica and hollow carbon capsule. The resultant MCM-41/carbon capsule composite offers a 3-D interconnected multimodal pore system, which discloses a wide pore range of ordered uniform mesopores (ca 2.3?nm) resulting from MCM-41 silica and disordered uniform mesopores (ca 3.8?nm) and macropores (ca 300?nm) from hollow mesoporous carbon, respectively. The composite has a high specific surface area (ca 909?m²/g) and large pore volume (ca 0.73?cm³/g). The in situ transformation approach of silica waste into valuable mesoporous silica is considered as a promising scalable route for efficient new multi-functional composites useful for a wide range of applications such as adsorption of volatile organic compounds and radioactive wastes produced in a nuclear facility.     

超临界CO_2中MCM-41-g-PHEMA介孔复合物的制备及性能

以甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯(HEMA)为单体,用乙烯基三乙氧基硅烷改性的介孔分子筛MCM-41为载体,偶氮二异丁腈为引发剂,在超临界二氧化碳中通过沉淀聚合,成功合成了聚甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯-二氧化硅介孔复合材料(MCM-41-gPHEMA)。考察了反应物配比、反应时间和反应压力对所制复合物形貌与产率的影响。对所合成的复合物进行红外光谱分析、比表面积、小角X射线衍射、扫描电镜、透射电镜、热重分析等表征。研究了复合物的溶胀性及在不同pH下对牛血清白蛋白(BSA)水溶液的吸附性能与吸附动力学。结果表明,MCM-41-g-PHEMA的孔径约为6.3nm,热稳定性明显提高,复合物对BSA的吸附动力学符合伪二级速率方程,最大吸附量为35mg/g。     

资源化利用铁尾矿制备全硅介孔分子筛MCM-41

以鞍山铁尾矿为硅源,CTAB为模板剂,采用水热合成法合成出全硅介孔分子筛MCM-41。采用X射线衍射分析研究了pH值、CTAB与SiO2配比、晶化温度和晶化时间对MCM-41结构的影响,结果表明MCM-41的合成条件为n（CTAB）/n（SiO2）=0.05～0.60,pH值=8～11,晶化时间〉24h,晶化温度60～100℃。TEM可观察到样品具有典型的按六方对称性排列的孔道结构,孔径在2～4nm变化。FT-IR证明了分子筛具有硅氧四面体骨架。     

Steam-assisted crystallization of TPA+-exchanged MCM-41 type mesoporous materials with thick pore walls

Hierarchical MCM-41/MFI composites were synthesized through ion-exchange of as-made MCM-41 type mesoporous materials with tetrapropylammonium bromide and subsequent steam-assisted recrystallization. The obtained samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR, ¹H–¹³C CP/MAS and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. The XRD patterns show that the MCM-41/MFI composite possesses both ordered MCM-41 phase and zeolite MFI phase. SEM and TEM images indicate that the recrystallized materials retained the mesoporous characteristics and the morphology of as-made mesoporous materials without the formation of bulky zeolite, quite different from the mechanical mixture of MCM-41 and MFI structured zeolite. Among others, lower recrystallization temperature and the introduction of the titanium to the parent materials are beneficial to preserve the mesoporous structure during the recrystallization process.     

用稻壳灰为硅源合成有序介孔二氧化硅材料的研究

用稻壳灰为硅源,用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵作为模板剂,在酸性或碱性条件下均成功地合成了有序介孔SiO2材料MCM-41.利用XRD、N2吸附曲线、SEM、TEM等测试方法分别对稻壳灰及介孔SiO2样品进行了表征.结果表明,稻壳灰为非晶体,呈粒状的多孔结构,其比表面积为250m2/g;在酸性条件下合成的MCM-41具有周期性规则排列的介孔结构,最可几孔径为2.4nm,比表面积为1100m2/g.     

Mesoporous silicates as nanoreactors for carbon nanotube production in the absence of transition metal catalysts

Carbon nanotubes were produced from either a template or the polymer-filled pore systems of mesoporous silicates of various structures and dimensions by heat treatment in the absence of air. Successful synthesis was done when the template molecules contained little or no oxygen. For SBA-15 material, where the structure-directing molecule used for synthesis of mesoporous silicate was polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide triblock copolymer, no carbon nanostructures were formed. A peculiar carbon nanostructure was generated from the template for pore expanded MCM-41. To demonstrate carbon nanotube formation from polymer in the mesoporous silicates, the mesopores of MCM-41, MCM-48, and SBA-15 silicates were filled with divinyl-benzene polymer and then graphitized at 1300 K. The polymer was successfully transformed into carbon nanotubes for the MCM class silicate but not the SBA-15 silicate.     

Compatibilizing effect of mesoporous fillers on the mechanical properties and morphology of polypropylene and polystyrene blend

Polypropylene(PP)/Polystyrene(PS) (PP/PS = 80/20) blend with different types of fillers were prepared by using melt method. Four different types of fillers, namely mesoporous MCM-41 (without template), nano-SiO₂, Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/MCM-41 and PMMA/SiO₂ were considered. For PMMA/MCM-41 filler, the synthesis of the filler consisting of entrapped strand of PMMA within the pores of mesoporous MCM-41 (without template) was described. The mechanical properties of the blend determined as the nano-fillers contents and the different types of blend were found to vary with the different interface between fillers and the matrix. SEM revealed a good interaction between the matrix phases and PMMA/MCM-41 or MCM-41 (without template). The decreased T_g of PS implied that the good adhesion between PP and PS blend was obtained by adding PMMA/MCM-41 nano-filler.     

Incorporation of nano-sized mesoporous MCM-41 material used as fillers in natural rubber composite

The nano-sized mesoporous MCM-41 (without template), and the modification of MCM-41 (without template) were used to prepare natural rubber (NR) composites. The effects of coupling agents γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH-550), γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-570), bis-(γ-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfide (Si-69), isopropyl tri-(dioctylpyrophosphate)titanate (NDZ-201) on the mechanical properties of the composites were also investigated. The results showed that the tensile properties of Natural rubber/mesoporous MCM-41 nanocomposite were improved as compared with those of NR compound. KH-570 had good effect on enhancing the overall properties of the composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the modified nano-sized MCM-41 material was well dispersed in the polymer matrix and the enhancement of the interface between the matrix and fillers was obtained.     

Amine-impregnated MCM-41 in post-combustion CO2 capture: Synthesis,characterization, isotherm modelling

In this study, a composite mesoporous silica material MCM-41 (Mobil composite matter) is impregnated with monoethanolamine (MEA) as primary linear amine, benzylamine (BZA) as primary cyclic amine and N-(2-aminoethyl) ethanolamine (AEEA) as secondary diamine and the effects of amine loading, amine type, CO₂ partial pressure and adsorption temperatures on the CO₂ adsorption are investigated. The CO₂ adsorption performances of MCM-41 and amine impregnated MCM-41 samples are studied up to 1 bar of CO₂ partial pressure and the temperature range of 25–60 °C. The amine loadings (% impregnation) are optimized for maximum CO₂ uptake. The materials are characterised using N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherm, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Elemental (CHNS) analysis. The materials have shown good structural and thermal stability. The MCM-41-40%AEEA, MCM-41-40%BZA and MCM-41-50%MEA samples are exhibited the CO₂ adsorption capacity of 2.34 mmol/g (102.98 mg/g), 0.908 mmol/g (39.96 mg/g) and 1.47 mmol/g (64.69 mg/g) respectively. The CO₂ uptake of MCM-41-40%AEEA is 3.5 times higher than that of in MCM-41 (0.68 mmol/g) and it is also the highest reported value as di-amine impregnated MCM-41. The results indicated that the adsorption capacities of the materials (MCM-41 and MCM-41-40%AEEA) are decreased with an increase of adsorption temperature in the range of 25–60 °C. The Freundlich, Langmuir, Sips and Toth isotherm models are used to correlate and predict experimental CO₂ adsorption data. The Sips and Toth isotherm models are found to be better fitted with the experimental data. The isosteric heat of adsorption of MCM-41 and MCM-41-40%AEEA samples are also calculated from Van’t Hoff plot using iSorbHP-win instrumental analysis software in the experimental temperature range.     

H<Subscript>3</Subscript>PW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript> supported on mesoporous MCM-41 and Al–MCM-41 materials: preparation and characterisation

MCM-41 and Al–MCM-41 has been synthesized using cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant as template and adding the silica precursor to aqueous solutions containing CTAB. The obtained solids were calcined at 600 °C for 4 h. HPW heteropolyacid supported on the mesoporous were prepared using the incipient wetness method. The characterization of materials was performed by X-ray diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, N₂ adsorption, ²⁹Si Cross Polarization–Magic Angle Spinning and ²⁷Al MAS NMR. Results showed that the hexagonal structure is obtained in both cases. The Aluminium species are located inside an extra-framework. The impregnation reduces the surface area of the mesoporous materials especially of the Al–MCM-41 suggesting a participation of aluminium during the impregnation. HPW is well dispersed in the mesoporous materials and is located inside the pores interacting with the silanol group of the pores wall. ²⁷Al MAS NMR measurements have showed that the impregnation causes the removal of the non-framework aluminium.     

Electrochemical sensor for detecting ultratrace nitroaromatic compounds using mesoporous SiO2-modified electrode

An electrochemical sensor for ultratrace nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) using mesoporous SiO2 of MCM-41 as sensitive materials is reported. MCM-41 was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray diffraction. Glassy carbon electrodes modified with MCM-41 show high sensitivity for cathodic voltammetric detection of NACs (including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB), 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and 1,3-dinitrobenzene) down to the nanomolar level. The high sensitivity is attributed to the strong adsorption of NACs by MCM-41 and large surface area of the working electrode resulting from MCM-41 modification. The voltammetric response is fast, and the detection of NACs can be finished within 14 s. SiO2 nanospheres were similarly used to modify glassy carbon electrodes for electrochemical detection of TNT and TNB. The detection limit of SiO2 nanosphere-modified electrodes is lower than that of MCM-41-modified electrodes, possibly due to the smaller surface area of SiO2 nanospheres than mesoporous MCM-41. The results show mesoporous SiO2-modified glassy carbon electrodes, particularly MCM-41-modified electrodes, open new opportunities for fast, simple, and sensitive field analysis of NACs.     

两步晶化法制备MCM-48/ZSM-5复合分子筛

利用两步晶化法制备了高水热稳定性的MCM48/ZSM-5介微孔复合分子筛.通过SEM、TEM、XRD、IR和N₂吸附脱附进行表征,结果显示,该材料的结构不同于简单的机械混合,而是具有微孔孔壁和三维立方介孔孔道的复合材料,其孔道尺寸为2.6nm左右.该复合分子筛在沸水中处理6h后,介孔结构仍保留完好.通过考察晶化时间对复合分子筛的影响,证明了介孔和微孔的组装是一个竞争的过程,复合分子筛中介孔与微孔结构的比例随晶化时间的变化而变化,且具有介孔孔道和微孔孔壁的复合分子筛150℃的最优晶化时间为8h.     

2-Mercaptothiazoline modified mesoporous silica for mercury removal from aqueous media

Mesoporous silicas (SBA-15 and MCM-41) have been functionalized by two different methods. Using the heterogeneous route the silylating agent, 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane, was initially immobilized onto the mesoporous silica surface to give the chlorinated mesoporous silica Cl-SBA-15 or Cl-MCM-41. In a second step a multifunctionalized N, S donor compound (2-mercaptothiazoline, MTZ) was incorporated to obtain the functionalized silicas denoted as MTZ-SBA-15-Het or MTZ-MCM-41-Het. Using the homogeneous route, the functionalization was achieved via the one step reaction of the mesoporous silica with an organic ligand containing the chelating functions, to give the modified mesoporous silicas denoted as MTZ-SBA-15-Hom or MTZ-MCM-41-Hom. The functionalized mesoporous silicas were employed as adsorbents for the regeneration of aqueous solutions contaminated with Hg (II) at room temperature. SBA-15 and MCM-41 functionalized with MTZ by the homogeneous method present good mercury adsorption values (1.10 and 0.7mmolHg (II)/g of silica, respectively). This fact suggests a better applicability of such mesoporous silica supports to extract Hg (II) from aqueous solutions. In addition, it was observed the existence of a correlation between mercury adsorption with pore size and volume since, SBA-15 with lower areas and higher pore sizes functionalized with sterically demanding ligands, show better adsorption capacities than functionalized MCM-41.     

Characterization of Zr-based MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves obtained by microwave irradiation or hydrothermal method

Zr-based MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves (ZrMCM-41) were successfully synthesized by microwave irradiation method and hydrothermal method, respectively. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, FT-IR and N₂ physical adsorption. The results show that the samples synthesized by the two different methods both possess typical hexagonal mesoporous structure of MCM-41 and high specific surface areas (over 800 m²/g). After calcination at 750°C for 3 h or hydrothermal treatment at 100°C for 6 days, the mesoporous structure of the samples still retained, however, the mesoporous ordering is poor. Under the comparable conditions, the reaction time required in the synthesis of ZrMCM-41 by microwave irradiation method was greatly reduced, and microwave irradiation method is eco-friendly and is easy to operate.     

Prediction of Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum Nanocluster-Filled Mesoporous Silica (Al/MCM-41)

MCM-41 consists of a hexagonal array of long, unconnected cylindrical pores with diameters that can be tailored within the range 1.6 nm to 10 nm. As a porous silica nanomaterial, MCM-41 is a promising porous substrate for mesoporous composites with extremely high or low thermal conductivity. In this article, the structural unit of MCM-41 was established first and an equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation was performed to determine the shell thermal conductivity of MCM-41. Then, based on one-dimensional (1D) heat transfer analysis, a mathematical expression for the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of Al nanocluster-filled mesoporous MCM-41 (Al/MCM-41) was obtained. The effects of porosity and the filling ratio of nanoclusters in the mesochannels were further investigated. As the porosity is greater than 75 %, the ETC of only-air-filling mesoporous MCM-41 in all directions tends to approach the thermal conductivity of air. It seems that Al nanoclusters have negligible effects on the ETC of the composite, except that mesochannels are almost completely filled with Al nanowires.     

SiC-dopped MCM-41 materials with enhanced thermal and hydrothermal stabilities

SiC-dopped MCM-41 mesoporous materials were synthesized by the in situ hydrothermal synthesis, in which a small amount of SiC was added in the precursor solvent of molecular sieve before the hydrothermal treatment. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N₂ physical adsorption and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The results show that the thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of MCM-41 materials can be improved obviously by incorporating a small amount of SiC. The structure collapse temperature of SiC-dopped MCM-41 materials is 100 °C higher than that of pure MCM-41 according to the differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Hydrothermal treatment experiments also show that the pure MCM-41 will losses it's ordered mesoporous structure in boiling water for 24 h while the SiC-dopped MCM-41 materials still keep partial porous structure.     

Synthesis and characterization of surface-modified and organic-functionalized MCM-41 type ordered mesoporous materials

A new and efficient method for the preparation of MCM-41 type ordered mesoporous phases using phosphate as promoter under reflux conditions is reported. The various mesoporous materials studied were: silica (Si-MCM-41), alumino-silicate (Al-MCM-41), and titanium-silicate (Ti-MCM-41). Our concept of promoter-assisted synthesis of zeolites and related microporous materials was found to be applicable in the synthesis of ordered mesoporous materials as well. The addition of small catalytic quantity of phosphate ions (PO ₄ ³⁻ ), used as promoters, significantly reduced the synthesis time (by a factor of 3–4) of all these mesoporous materials. The synthesis of new MCM-41 type organic-inorganic composite materials with unique properties is also reported.     

Adsorption performance of VOCs in ordered mesoporous silicas with different pore structures and surface chemistry

Ordered mesoporous silicas with different pore structures, including SBA-15, MCM-41, MCM-48 and KIT-6, were functionalized with phenyltriethoxysilane by a post-synthesis grafting approach. It was found that phenyl groups were covalently anchored onto the surface of mesoporous silicas, and the long-range ordering of the mesoporous channels was well retained after the surface functionalization. The static adsorption of benzene and the dynamic adsorption of single component (benzene) and bicomponent (benzene and cyclohexane) on the original and functionalized materials were investigated. As indicated by the adsorption study, the functionalized silicas exhibit improvement in the surface hydrophobicity and affinity for aromatic compounds as compared with the original silicas. Furthermore, the pore structure and the surface chemistry of materials can significantly influence adsorption performance. A larger pore diameter and cubic pore structure are favorable to surface functionalization and adsorption performance. In particular, the best adsorption performance observed with phenyl-grafted KIT-6 is probably related to the highest degree of surface functionalization, arising from the relatively large mesopores and bi-continuous cubic pore structure which allow great accessibility for the functional groups. In contrast, functionalized MCM-41 exhibits the lowest adsorption efficiency, probably owing to the small size of mesopores and 1D mesoporous channels.     

TiO_2在MCM-41内表面单层及双层分散的结构表征

首次以有机物钛酸丁酯为前驱体,合成了ＴｉＯ２呈单层分散状态（Ｔｉ／Ｓｉ＝０.２０）或双层分散状态（Ｔｉ／Ｓｉ＝０．３９）的介孔分子筛ＭＣＭ－４１（Ｓｉ／Ａｌ＝３５）,并以 ＸＲＤ,ＦＴＩＲ,Ｎ２吸附－脱附,固体ＵＶ－ｖｉｓ 漫反射等表征手段对其结构特征和氧化钛分散状态进行了研究．结果表明： ＴｉＯ２在介孔分子筛ＭＣＭ－４１孔道中分散, ＭＣＭ－４１骨架结构结晶度降低,但是附着二层ＴｉＯ２后,仍能保持长程有序结构; ＴｉＯ２与ＭＣＭ－４１孔道表面的ＳｉＯ２以化学键连接,生成Ｓｉ－Ｏ—Ｔｉ键;无论是单层还是双层分散的 ＴｉＯ２在 ＭＣＭ－４１内孔壁均匀分散;且由于ＴｉＯ２粒子的减小使其对紫外光的吸收发生明显的蓝移现象．     

In situ incorporation of nickel nanoparticles into the mesopores of MCM-41 by manipulation of solvent-solute interaction and its activity toward adsorptive desulfurization of gas oil

In this contribution, different amounts of nickel were incorporated into the mesopores of MCM-41 via an in situ approach. A hydrophobic nickel precursor was incorporated into the nanochannels of mesoporous silica by manipulation of solvent-solute interaction. The synthesized material was characterized using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, temperature programmed reduction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results implicate the formation of MCM-41 with well-ordered hexagonal structure and establish also the presence of nickel nanoparticles inside the nanochannels of mesoporous silica. Adsorptive desulfurization of gas oil was conducted using the nickel-incorporated MCM-41 samples. The effects of nickel concentration, temperature of process and feed flow rate on the desulfurization process were examined. The MCM-41 containing 6 wt.% of nickel had both the highest breakthrough sulfur adsorption capacity and total sulfur adsorption capacity, which were 0.69 and 1.67 mg sulfur/g adsorbent, respectively. The breakthrough sulfur adsorption capacity was almost regained after reductive regeneration of spent adsorbent. The obtained results suggest that the method applied for the synthesis of Niy/MCM resulted in formation of well-dispersed, accessible and small nickel nanoparticles incorporated into the pores of MCM-41 which might be an advantage for adsorption of refractory sulfur compounds from low sulfur gas oil.