The effects of cyclic alcohols on particle morphology and pore diameter for the SBA-15

The SBA-15 mesoporous particles have been successfully prepared in acid aqueous solution using cyclic alcohols of cyclopentanol (CP) and cyclohexanol (CH) as additives. The effects of cyclic alcohols on the pore diameter and morphology for the SBA-15 are investigated through regulating the mass ratio of additive to surfactant. It is interestingly found that the morphology of the SBA-15 materials gradually transfers from plate-like to rod-shaped with the increase of the mass ratio. Meanwhile, the SBA-15 still maintains the typical 2D p6mm mesostructure even at the high mass ratio of additive to surfactant along with the appearance of enlarged pore size. Furthermore, combined with the evolution of the pore diameter and morphology, a six-step growth mechanism of the SBA-15 particles using cyclic alcohols as additives is firstly proposed. This study would provide the valuable reference and guidance for the preparation of SBA-15.