title: Investigation of the morphology of the mesoporous SBA-16 and SBA-15 materials.
abstract: Mesoporous SBA-16 and SBA-15 were studied in order to control their possible morphologies. SBA-16 is synthesized using a silicon source (tetraethoxysilane, TEOS) and a ternary system consisting of surfactant F127 (EO106PO70EO106), water, and butanol. The same ternary system, with higher butanol concentration, is used to form SBA-15 material as well. An increase of the TEOS concentration results in a morphology shift of SBA-16 from micron-sized spheres, over randomly shaped aggregated particles, to macrospheres with a size of 15 mm. An identical increase in TEOS concentration also results in the formation of SBA-15 macrospheres, which can be controlled in size. Micron-sized spheres of SBA-15 were formed using a quaternary system of surfactant P123 (EO20PO70EO20), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), ethanol, and water. All mesoporous silica materials were characterized using SEM, XRD, and N2 sorption techniques.
authors: Laboratory of Adsorption and Catalysis, University of Antwerpen (CDE), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. wesley.stevens@ua.ac.be
authors: Wesley J J
authors: WJ
authors: Stevens
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Lebeau
authors: Myrjam
authors: M
authors: Mertens
authors: Gustaaf
authors: G
authors: Van Tendeloo
authors: Pegie
authors: P
authors: Cool
authors: Etienne F
authors: EF
authors: Vansant