Mesoporous material classification, characterization techniques and structural characteristics - Database & Sql Blog Articles

Mesoporous materials are a class of materials with pores in the range of 2 to 50 nm. The most commonly studied type is the MCM series, which is a silicon-based mesoporous material. This series includes several structures, such as hexagonal phase MCM-41 and cubic phase MCM-41. Among these, the cubic structure is the most distinctive and has received significant attention in recent research.

In addition to the MCM series, there are other types of mesoporous materials with different structural features, such as the SBA-n series, MSU series, HMS, APMs, and FSM-16. These materials offer diverse properties and applications depending on their composition and pore architecture.

When classified based on chemical composition, mesoporous materials can be divided into two main categories: silicon-based and non-silicon-based. Silicon-based materials include MCM and SBA series, while non-silicon-based ones mainly consist of transition metal oxides, phosphates, and sulfides. Non-silicon materials often exhibit variable valence states, which opens up new possibilities for applications that silicon-based materials may not support. However, they generally have lower thermal stability, and their pore structures tend to collapse after calcination, resulting in reduced surface area and pore volume.

Another way to classify mesoporous materials is by whether the pores are ordered or disordered. Disordered mesoporous materials, like ordinary SiOâ‚‚ aerogels or glass-ceramics, have larger pore size ranges and irregular shapes. In contrast, ordered mesoporous materials, such as the M41S family, have well-defined, uniform pores and are of great interest in nanotechnology due to their precise structural control and potential for advanced applications.