Synthesis and characterization of MCM-41 materials assembled with CeO2 nanoparticles

Mesoporous material MCM-41 was synthesized in acid condition under ambient temperature from ethyl orthosilicate as Si source and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as template. CeO2 particles were introduced into the synthesized MCM-41 by precipitation method. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle XRD (SAXS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), infrared spectrum analysis (FT-IR), and N2 adsorption and desorption. Surface areas and pore size distribution were analyzed by BET method and BJH method, respectively. The results showed that ordered hexagonal pore structure was observed in the synthesized MCM-41. MCM-41 had a high surface area of 1133 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.8041 cm3/g. CeO2 nanoparticles can be introduced into MCM-41 when the doping amount of CeO2 was 3.33 at.%. After nanoparticles being introduced into, the surface area of the material was reduced to 616.5 m2/g and the pore volume also decreased.