Preparation of highly ordered CMI-1 and wormhole-like DWM mesoporous silica catalyst supports using C₁₆(EO)₁₀ as surfactant

Concentrations of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants located in the hexagonal H1 micellar domain typically afford disordered mesoporous structures of wormhole-like channels after polymerization of the inorganic precursor in solution. The effect of hydrothermal treatment duration and temperature on the characteristics of the obtained disordered DWM (Disordered Wormhole-like Mesostructure) compounds has been investigated. Thermal stability of these samples has also been studied and appears to be superior to that of MCM-41 type materials. If the weight percentage of surfactant in solution is however decreased, well-ordered hexagonal CMI-1 can be directly obtained. In this case, a co-operative mechanism leading to spherical particles of organized channel structures has been proposed. Influence of the surfactant concentration on the arrangement has been discussed in detail.