Preparation of microporous pillared magadiite from silylated magadiite and their unique inclusion behaviors of organic molecules

A novel pillared magadiite with soft micropores were prepared from the pyrolysis of magadiite silylated with octyltrichlorosilane and then with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The interlayer spacing of the pillared magadiite samples changed from 1.80 to 2.74 nm, depending on the water contents added during the second step silylation. At the same time, the BET surface area increased and the pore size decreased. Polar organic molecules were included between the layers of pillared magadiites, accompanying the interlayer expansion. The inclusion behaviors of organic molecules with different molecular widths indicated that the distance between the adjacent pillars for the entrance of organic molecules decreased with the increase in the content of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane in the precursors of pillared magadiites.

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► Pillared silica was prepared from silylated magadiite.
► Pillared silica possessed soft micropores.
► Addition of water increased the BET surface area of pillared silica.
► Organic molecules were size-selectively included into pillared silica.