Structural order in MCM-41 controlled by shifting silicate polymerization equilibrium

Abstract

Powder X-ray diffraction, ²⁹Si and ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy of MCM-41 show that the long-range structural order and textural uniformity of the mesoporous molecular sieve are markedly improved due to a shift in the reaction equilibrium when acetic acid is repeatedly added during the conversion of sodium silicate and NMe₃(C₁₆H₃₃)Cl to a MCM-41 phase.