Structure and acid-base properties of surface-modified mesoporous silica

A series of surface-modified mesoporous silica endowing with acid-base properties have been successfully synthesized in one pot by in situ introduction of zirconium and magnesium salts into the initial mixture of synthesizing mesoporous silica (SBA-15) and this method combines into a single step to form a novel material with a periodically ordered mesoporous backbone and specific chemical reactivity of the acid-basic sites. X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopes (HRTEM), N2 adsorption, FT-IR transmission spectra, 29Si MAS NMR spectra, NH3- and CO2-temperature programmed desorption (TPD) are employed to characterize the titled mesoporous materials. The results indicate that the product possesses excellent acid-basic properties with well mesoporous structure, which make it promising for their application in heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption-separation processes.