LAUSR

Abstract This work reports syntheses of siliceous mesoporous MCM-41 by microwave-assisted hydrothermal process with CTAB:SiO2 ratio from 0.025 to 0.400 and NaOH:SiO2 ratio of 1.0, 1.3 and 2.0. From XRD results, the MCM-41 phase increases with CTAB:SiO2 ratio until 0.300. Another amorphous phase is produced from the gel with CTAB:SiO2 ratio of 0.400. MCM-41 from the optimal CTAB:SiO2 ratio (0.300) has surface area of 1138 m2 g−1 and pore wall thickness of 12.70 A. With CTAB:SiO2 ratio fixed at 0.300, the optimal NaOH:SiO2 ratio is 1.0. Then, an influence of microwave-assisted hydrothermal time is studied from 0 to 180 min on the gels with CTAB:SiO2 ratio of 0.300 and NaOH:SiO2 ratio of 1.0. All MCM-41 samples have essentially similar XRD pattern, surface area and pore-wall thickness. However, their TEM images indicate that the longer hydrothermal time produced MCM-41 with the less defects.