No abstract

has recently emerged as a potential material for the catalytic conversion of large molecules. Usually, SBA-15 has a low content of aluminum due to the conventional acidic synthesis medium. Although a few approaches have been adopted to prepare Al−SBA-15 with a high alumina content, it is still challenging to prepare well-ordered Al−SBA-15 with a high alumina content. Here, we demonstrate a facile synthesis process in neutral mediums for the grafting of Al into the framework of SBA-15. This approach relies mainly on the dissociation of Si−O−Si bonds and the polymerization of Si−O−Si/Al bonds promoted by sodium persulfate (SPS) in neutral mediums. In this way, well-ordered Al−SBA-15 with a high aluminum content and enhanced acidity was obtained. Results of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) showed an n(SiO 2 )/n(Al 2 O 3 ) ratio of 13.7, much lower than that of the conventional sample (21.7) obtained in acidic medium. The characterization results indicated the presence of a wellordered Al-containing mesophase with high hydrothermal stability. Notably, the Al content and the acidity of Al−SBA-15 can be tuned by changing the SPS amount.