Synthesis, characterization and potential applications of new materials in the mesoporous range

M41S is the designation of a new type of mesoporous structures. The characteristics of these materials are large surface areas and very narrow pore size distributions, with pore diameters tunable from 15 to 100 إ. The M41S family consists of MCM-48, which has a cubic ordered pore structure, MCM-41, which has a hexagonally ordered pore structure and MCM-50, which has an unstable lamellar structure. In this review we cover the synthesis, modification, characterization and potential applications of these materials.