Hydrothermally stable MCM-41 analogue with extensive embedded voids

Hydrothermally stable aluminosilicate MCM-41 analogue with extensive embedded voids was prepared via the controlled coassembly of protozeolitic nanoclusters and soluble silicates in alkaline media. XRD, N2 sorption results showed that the sample had highly ordered hexagonal mesostructures typical of MCM-41, but the hydrothermal stability was largely improved compared to normal MCM-41 merely from sodium silicates and sodium aluminates. Furthermore, the MCM-41 analogue exhibited tubular morphology in typical SEM micrograph, and embedded voids were extensively distributed in the tubule walls based on TEM observation and N2 sorption analysis. As a result, the unidimensional nanochannels were interconnected into three-dimensional networks by these embedded voids. NMR results indicated that the MCM-41 analogue had higher cross-linking degree compared to normal MCM-41, which led to the greatly improved hydrothermal stability. This MCM-41 analogue with good hydrothermal stability and increased interchannel accessibility is a potential candidate as catalysts and catalyst supports.