title: Synthesis of large-pore phenyl-bridged mesoporous organosilica with thick walls by evaporation-induced self-assembly for efficient benzene adsorption.
abstract: Large-pore phenyl-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) were facilely synthesized by evaporation-induced self-assembly of 1,4-bis(triethoxysily)benzene and triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 as a template under acid conditions combined with a mixed-solvothermal treatment. The ordered PMOs exhibit large uniform mesopores of approximately 9.9 nm in diameter after calcination at 350 degrees C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The mesoporous phenyl-bridged organosilica products have an ordered hexagonal mesostructure with space group p6mm. N(2) adsorption/desorption isotherms reveal imperfect mesopore channels with high surface areas (up to 1150 m(2)/g) and thick pore walls (up to 7.7 nm). The mesopores can be expanded with the decrease of acidity, as well as the increase of Pluronic F127 content. A mixed-solvothermal treatment in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water at 100 degrees C was first used to improve the periodicity of the mesopore walls, as well as increase the wall thickness. The composites exhibit efficient adsorption capacities (2.06 mmol g(-1)) for benzene, suggesting a potential adsorbent for removal of volatile organic compounds. The EISA approach combined with the mixed-solvothermal treatment provides important insights into the development of large-pore PMOs by using long-chain organosilanes, and further demonstrates the ability to fabricate materials with thick walls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Yunxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Huanting
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Webley
authors.forename: Dongyuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao