EFFECT OF DIMETHYLBENZYLDODECYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE ON THE STRUCTURE REGULARITY OF MESOPOROUS SILICA MCM-41
RIM KAABI *
Laboratory of Materials Molecules and Applications, Preparatory Institute of Scientific and Technical Studies 2070, La Marsa, Tunisia and Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Campus Universitaire 2092 - El Manar, Tunisia
JAVIER GONZALEZ-BENITO
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carlos III University of Madrid, Av. de la Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid, Spain
MANEF ABDERRABBA
Laboratory of Materials Molecules and Applications, Preparatory Institute of Scientific and Technical Studies 2070, La Marsa, Tunisia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Using the surfactant dimethylbenzyldodecylammonium bromide as structure-directing agent mesoporous silica MCM-41 was prepared by two synthesis methods A and B. The synthesis method A is a sol-gel process while B is a sol-gel process with thermal condition and salt addition (potassium iodide). The materials prepared were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that simple sol-gel didn’t yield to regular hexagonal structure. Unlike, method B led to hexagonal mesoporous silica MCM-41 was synthesized by using cationic surfactant with bulky head groups.
Keywords: MCM-41, dimethylbenzyldodecylammonium bromide, salt, hexagonal structure, regularity