Effect of pH in hydrothermal treatment of as-synthesized MCM-41 on wetting stability of resulting materials in aqueous solution

Effect of pH in aqueous media used in the hydrothermal treatment of as-synthesized MCM-41 on the structure and the wetting stability of the resulting materials was studied using XRD, TG-DTA and N 2 adsorption. The long-range structural order and the wetting stability of the mesoporous MCM-41 were improved through hydrothermal treatment of as-synthesized sample at around pH 7 without salt addition. The pH adjustment of aqueous media toward neutral is thought to shift the polymerization equilibrium of silica species around external surface of the micelles to a higher degree of condensation, and to reduce the electrostatic repulsion between the silicate–micelle composites. This leads to the further formation of Si–O–Si network within the silica walls of the mesoporous materials, resulting in the enhancement of the structural stability of MCM-41 samples.