Surface morphology and physicochemical properties of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 synthesized at low temperature

The effects of process parameters on the surface morphology and physicochemical characteristics of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 synthesized at low temperature have been investigated in this study. SBA-15 particles were synthesized through sol-gel method using non-ionic surfactant Pluronic P123 and TEOS as a silica source with aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a catalyst under the following conditions: HCl concentration (1.0-2.5 M), ageing temperature (40-70ºC) and ageing time (12-48 hours). A series of physicochemical characterizations and material analyses were performed on SBA-15 particles including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), BET surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. From the experimental observation, the conditions of HCl concentration, ageing temperature and ageing time were able to influence the surface morphology of SBA-15 particles. The presence of the ordered structures in SBA-15 particles was observed through the formation of 1-D cylindrical channels and 2-D hexagonal pores, inspected by using TEM. The detected XRD peak at (100) reflection signified the presence of ordered meso structures within the SBA-15 particles. Therefore, synthesis of SBA-15 particles through sol-gel method at low temperature is feasible and more sustainable if compared to the energy intensive hydrothermal method.