Influence of the reaction conditions on the thermal stability of mesoporous MCM-48 silica obtained at room temperature

The thermal stability of MCM-48 silicas synthesized at room temperature under basic conditions using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as template was evaluated as a function of the reaction time, CTAB/TEOS and H2O/ethanol molar ratios and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) concentration in the initial gel composition. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption–desorption analyses, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that synthesis conditions affect the structural and thermal properties of the MCM-48 silicas. These silicas exhibited a size from 200 to 500 nm with spherical morphology.