Influence of Fe on the thermal stability and catalysis of SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves

In this paper, SBA-15 and Fe/SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves were prepared by the sol-gel method in acid solution, adjusting pH value in two-step, and then the thermal stability and the catalysis for the preparation of carbon nanotubes were studied. All results showed that the cell parameters of the Fe/SBA-15 mesopores changes were less affected than those of the SBA-15. Fe atoms should anchor in the frame of the SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves, as the results of the implantation of Fe, the thermal stability of Fe/SBA-15 is enhanced to some extent. Furthermore, using the as-prepared Fe/SBA-15 as catalysts, carbon nanotubes with good microstructure were synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition method (CCVD). Unlike others, we hardly found carbon nanotubes in the mesopores, but almost carbon nanotubes are opened and grow from the Fe/SBA-15, which also indicated that Fe should present in the frame of SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves.