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Rod-like and spherical mesoporous SBA-15 silica particles were synthesized as pure silicas and surface modified by organosilane coupling agents firstly, and then the effects of these mesoporous materials on the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), the stabilities of batch and semi-continuous MMA emulsion polymerizations, and the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of the polymer products were studied. The incorporation of both unmodified and silane-modified forms of the mesoporous silica particles in the polymerization reaction increased the CMC of SDS. The presence of the unmodified mesoporous silica in the polymerization process led to instability in the batch emulsion polymerization process, as indicated by the formation of increased amounts of coagulum, and a decrease in the molecular weight of the polymer product. However, in comparison to the polymer formed in the absence of particle additives the molecular weight of the PMMA polymer increased with the amount of emulsifier and the addition of silane-modified SBA-15 particles, suggesting the growth of the polymer chains is facilitated at least in part by reaction in the pores of the particles. The improvement in molecular weight indicates that semi-continuous MMA emulsion polymerization is best suited for the preparation of PMMA-mesoporous silica composites., INTRODUCTION Since the discovery of hexagonally ordered mesoporous molecular sieves silicas at the beginning of the 1990s, the synthesis and application of the advanced mesoporous materials have undergone rapid growth. [...]

The proton transfer process mediated by water molecules adsorbed in an aluminosilicate framework was studied using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The investigation was conducted using a quasi-one-dimensional model simulating the mesoporous aluminosilicate channel structures.

A novel three-step assembly pathway is reported for the formation of a mesostructured alumina with framework pore walls made of crystalline, lathlike gamma-Al203 nanoparticles. The high surface areas (300-350 m2/g) and pore volumes (0.45-0.75 cm3/g) provided by these mesostructured forms of gamma-Al203 are useful in materials and catalytic applications where the availability of surface Lewis acid sites and the dispersion of supported metal centers govern reactivity.

X-ray diffraction, TGA-DTA, and (super 7)Li and (super 23)Na NMR data is presented for PEO nanocomposites made with natural and synthetic montmorillonite clays that provide new insight into interlayer structure. (super 23)Na NMR shows that PEO intercalculation results in the conversation of the multiple Na(super +) hydration states observed for the prostine clay into inner sphere sites most likely formed through coordination with the basal oxygens of the clay.

The mercury-binding mechanism for representative thiol-functionalized mesostructures by atomic pair distribution function analysis of synchroton X-ray powder diffraction data and by Raman spectroscopy is investigated. The Raman results indicate that the complexation of mercury centers by thiolate depends on the mercury loading.

The density functional theory (DFT) method is used to investigate the structure and bonding of silica and aluminosilicate nanoclusters containing five- and six-membered oxygen rings. The results reveal that an excitation energy at least 18 times larger than the room-temperature thermal energy is needed to break the stable five-membered ring structure, implying a high hydrothermal stability and acidity for this aluminosilicate structure.

The structure determination and an extensive exploration of the opportunities in the pore structure tailoring for a prominent member of ordered silicas with cage-like mesoporous structure (OSCMS) family are reported. It is shown that the temperature and time control during the synthesis allows one to gradually change cage-like pores of FDU-1 to a highly open and accessible porous system with narrow pore size distribution.

Two-dimensional, hexagonally ordered silicas with large uniform mesopores are assembled through a nonionic supramolecular assembly pathway using sodium silicate as a silica source and the triblock copolymer pluronic as a structure-directing agent. The materials exhibited adsorption properties highly similar to silica assembled through an electrostatic pathway under strongly acidic conditions, indicating the framework structure of analogues and consist of ordered large pores connected by micropores in the pore walls.

The replacement of amorphous aluminosilicated by derivatives of zeolite Y in gas oil cracking catalysts 40 years ago resulted in better product distribution, less coke formation, better stability, and lower catalyst consumption rates. Nanosized MSU-AS compositions possess the unique combination of mesoporosity, hydrothermal stability, acidity, and longevity that is desired for the efficient cracking of high molecular weight hydrocarbons.

A general route to mesostructured alumina containing transition alumina phase is reported. The study shows that surface areas are compatible with the values expected for a mesostructure with thick walls.

Sustainable plant-derived N-oleyl-1,3-diaminopropane surfactant micelles cross-linked by divinylbenzene (DVB) have been intercalated in the pores of mesostructured silica and the resulting functionalized mesophases were used to immobilize heavy metal ions through complexation by the diamine head groups. Two methods were used to form the composite surfactant–silica compositions. In the “pre-assembly” approach, the unsaturated amine micelles were first cross-linked in aqueous solution and subsequently used as a structure-directing agent to form the composite silica–polymeric amine mesophase. In the second “post-assembly” approach, the unsaturated amine micelles were used to template the silica mesophase and then cross-linked in situ with DVB within the pores of the composite mesophase. The accessibility of the amine functional groups in the mesophases prepared by both assembly methods was demonstrated through the uptake of Cu(ii) and Pb(ii) ions from aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolites with uniform intracrystal mesopores, designated MSU-MFI, were prepared using silane-modified polymers as mesopore-generating agents. X-ray diffraction analysis of this catalyst showed Braggs peaks representative of MFI structure. Catalyst characterization by nitrogen physisorption revealed a mesoporous structure with high surface area, pore size and volume. The MSU-MFI catalysts developed in this study were selective toward aromatic chemical production from poplar pyrolysis vapour. Yields of generalized products and aromatics were comparable to those obtained from conventional microporous ZSM-5 analogs as demonstrated by pyroprobe-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. While ZSM-5 was more selective to smaller C6 aromatics and naphthalenes, MSU-MFI catalysts were more selective to C8 and C9 monoaromatics. The incorporation of gallium(III) ions in MSU-MFI using the incipient wetness method increased aromatic yields by up to 15% over Ga-free catalysts and decreased the coke production by up to 6% (p < 0.05). Due to high yields and low coke formation, Ga-MSU-MFI offers an improved option for making non-oxygenated aromatic chemicals from photosynthetic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]