Preparation of plate-like mesoporous material from layered silicate RUB-15

A plate-like mesoporous material was formed from the lamellar structure of layered silicate RUB-15. RUB-15 was synthesized by a hydrothermal method, as reported previously. TMA (tetramethylammonium) ions exist in the interlayer of RUB-15 were exchanged with C16 TMA (hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium) ions, and TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) was then intercalated in between the layers. After steaming, the obtained powder was calcined and characterized by XRD, N2 gas adsorption, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD patterns and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of the finally obtained powders indicated the presence of mesopores in the sample. The morphology of powders was plate-like which originates from the structure of the starting material. Cross-sectional FE-SEM images of the final obtained powders revealed existence of mesopores between the layers. The morphology of the final obtained mesoporous materials was affected by their remaining layered structure due to the starting material RUB-15.