Fabrication of MCM-41 mesoporous silica through the self-assembly supermolecule of β-CD and CTAB

Using the self-assembly beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as structure-directing agents, high-quality ordered MCM-41 silicas have been prepared. Small-angle X-ray diffraction (SXRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques were used to characterize the calcined samples. Results showed that the pore structure of the resulting mesoporous silica belonged to the two-dimensional hexagonal structure (space group p6mm). The high-quality hexagonal structure was formed as n <= 1 (n denotes molar ratio of beta-CD to CTAB). N2 adsorption-desorption curves revealed type IV isotherms, H4 hysteresis loops, for all samples, and H1 hysteresis loops for samples at n = 0, 0.1, 1 and 2, respectively. The pore size and the pore wall thickness of the samples increased with the increase in n values, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.