A high-quality Si−MCM-41 was prepared with the composition of SiO2, 0.2; TEAOH, 0.25; CTMABr, 35
in H2O using fumed silica as the silica source. The quality of the compounds was assessed using different
analytical techniques such as XRD, N2 adsorption−desorption measurement, UV−vis absorption, FTIR, and
29Si MAS NMR. The quality of M41S mesoporous materials, synthesized using a single C16TMA+ surfactant,
could be further improved by a postsynthesis hydrothermal treatment of the as-synthesized materials in water.
In comparison with the ordinary preparation, the water-treated materials exhibited a higher long-distance
order, a higher BET surface area, and a larger pore size. The postsynthesis water treatment method provided
an easy and mild way to prepare high-quality M41S molecular sieves with the pore size controllable by
altering either the treatment time or the temperature. The postsynthesis treatment also enhanced the stability,
especially the hydrothermal stability, of Si−MCM-41. The 29Si MAS NMR results demonstrated that the
water treatment promoted the wall polymerization or local atomic arrangement. It was suggested that the pH
lowering of synthesis mixture by replacing the mother liquor with water played a crucial role in the restructuring
toward a high-quality Si−MCM-41. The quality of Ti−MCM-41, Al−MCM-41, and Si−MCM-48 was also
improved by a similar postsynthesis hydrothermal treatment.
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