Crystal morphology supports the liquid crystal formation mechanism for the mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41

Transmission electron microscopy of purely siliceous and gallosilicate mesoporous molecular sieves MCM-41 shows that the neighbouring crystal edges meet at the angle of 120°, thus suggesting the most likely mechanism of crystal growth. The morphology of MCM-41 alone strongly supports the liquid crystal mechanism initiated by the silicate anions, and not the mechanism involving a layered intermediate.