Structure evolution of mesoporous silica SBA-15 and MCM-41 under swift heavy ion irradiation

Two types of mesoporous silica pellets, SBA-15 and MCM-41, were prepared and irradiated by 20Ne 278 MeV (max. fluence = 2.5 × 1014 ion/cm2) and 36Ar 493 MeV beams (max. fluence = 1 × 1013 ion/cm2). Irradiated and non-irradiated samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, small angle X-ray scattering, and infrared spectrometry. The different behaviours of the two materials under different conditions are observed and discussed. We point out that SBA-15 is more robust than MCM-41 under irradiation.