title: Mesostructured forms of gamma-Al(2)O(3).
abstract: gamma-Al2O3 is one of the most extensively utilized metal oxides in heterogeneous catalysis. Conventional forms of this oxide typically exhibit a surface area and pore volume less than 250 m2/g and 0.5 cm3/g, respectively. Previous efforts to prepare mesostructured forms of alumina resulted only in structurally unstable derivatives with amorphous framework walls. The present work reports mesostructured aluminas with walls made of gamma-Al2O3, denoted MSU-gamma. These materials are structurally stable and provide surface areas and pore volumes up to 370 m2/g and 1.5 cm3/g, respectively. The key to obtaining these structures is the formation of a mesostructured surfactant/boehmite precursor, denoted MSU-S/B, assembled through the hydrolysis of an aluminum cation, oligomer, or molecule in the presence of a nonionic surfactant. Mesostructured, gamma-aluminas offer the possibility of improving the catalytic efficiency of many heterogeneous catalytic processes, such as petroleum refining, petrochemical processing, and automobile exhaust control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Center for Fundamental Materials Research, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Zhaorong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Randall W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Pinnavaia