EFFECT OF DIMETHYLBENZYLDODECYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE ON THE STRUCTURE REGULARITY OF MESOPOROUS SILICA MCM-41

Using the surfactant dimethylbenzyldodecylammonium bromide as structure-directing agent mesoporous silica MCM-41 was prepared by two synthesis methods A and B. The synthesis method A is a sol-gel process while B is a sol-gel process with thermal condition and salt addition (potassium iodide). The materials prepared were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that simple sol-gel didn’t yield to regular hexagonal structure. Unlike, method B led to hexagonal mesoporous silica MCM-41 was synthesized by using cationic surfactant with bulky head groups.