APTES functionalization in SBA-15: the effect on SO₂ capture and detection applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing efficient adsorbents for air pollutant remediation and monitoring is crucial.
• The impact of functionalization on adsorbent performance requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of APTES functionalization ratio on SO2 adsorption and detection.
• To understand the interaction mechanism between SO2 and functionalized adsorbents.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of SBA-15 materials with varying APTES functionalization.
• SO2 adsorption isotherms and uptake measurements.
• Fluorescence, time-resolved photoluminescence, and quantum yield experiments for detection.
• X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for mechanism elucidation.
• Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for interaction confirmation.

Main Results:

• SBA-15_6.1APTES demonstrated high SO2 uptake (1.15 mmol g-1 at 0.001 bar, 298 K).
• A selective 'turn-on' fluorescence response was observed for SO2, indicating efficient host-to-guest energy transfer.
• XPS and DFT calculations confirmed hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions as key mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• APTES functionalization significantly enhances SBA-15 material performance for SO2 adsorption and detection.
• The developed material shows high selectivity and a clear interaction mechanism, suitable for SO2 remediation.
• This research provides valuable insights into designing advanced materials for air pollutant control.