Publication
Title
The merging of silica-surfactant microspheres under hydrothermal conditions
Author
Abstract
Post-synthesis hydrothermal treatments have been used to improve the quality of MCM-41 materials. In our latest work, merging of surfactant-containing silica microspheres during the hydrothermal treatments was observed. Mechanistic insights and the different stages that are involved in the merging process can be summarized as follows. First, the surfaces of the starting microspheres open up due to the dissolution of silica. Then the dissolved silica species provide mass source for the formation of particle necks connecting two neighboring microspheres. Gradually, surfaces of the starting microspheres are flattened to meet the needs of further growth of the necks. Finally, some chain-like highly-ordered mesoporous structures up to several micrometers are formed. The observed merging of the surfactant-containing microspheres is a re-assembling process, which is under the control of electrostatic force between the dissolved silica species and the surfactant cations. The occluded surfactant cations in the precursor spheres play important roles in the merging process.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Microporous and mesoporous materials: zeolites, clays, carbons and related materials. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2008
ISSN
1387-1811
DOI
10.1016/J.MICROMESO.2008.03.034
Volume/pages
116 (2008) , p. 141-146
ISI
000261133600021
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 09.01.2009
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference