Pore structural characteristics, size exclusion properties and column performance of two mesoporous amorphous silicas and their pseudomorphically transformed MCM-41 type derivatives

Assessment of Hydrophilicity/Hydrophobicity in Mesoporous Silica by Combining Adsorption, Liquid Intrusion, and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

We have developed a comprehensive strategy for quantitatively assessing the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of nanoporous materials by combining advanced adsorption studies, novel liquid intrusion techniques, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. For this, we have chosen a well-defined system of model materials, i.e., the highly ordered mesoporous silica molecular sieve SBA-15 in its pristine state and functionalized with different amounts of trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups, allowing one to accurately tailor the surface chemistry while maintaining the well-defined pore structure. For an absolute quantification of the trimethylsilyl group density, quantitative 1H solid-state NMR spectroscopy under magic angle spinning was employed. A full textural characterization of the materials was obtained by high-resolution argon 87 K adsorption, coupled with the application of dedicated methods based on nonlocal-density functional theory (NLDFT). Based on the known texture of the model materials, we developed a novel methodology allowing one to determine the effective contact angle of water adsorbed on the pore surfaces from complete wetting to nonwetting, constituting a powerful parameter for the characterization of the surface chemistry inside porous materials. The surface chemistry was found to vary from hydrophilic to hydrophobic as the TMS functionalization content was increased. For wetting and partially wetting surfaces, pore condensation of water is observed at pressures P smaller than the bulk saturation pressure p0 (i.e., at p/p0 < 1) and the effective contact angle of water on the pore walls could be derived from the water sorption isotherms. However, for nonwetting surfaces, pore condensation occurs at pressures above the saturation pressure (i.e., at p/p0 > 1). In this case, we investigated the pore filling of water (i.e., the vapor-liquid phase transition) by the application of a novel, liquid water intrusion/extrusion methodology, allowing one to derive the effective contact angle of water on the pore walls even in the case of nonwetting. Complementary molecular simulations provide density profiles of water on pristine and TMS-grafted silica surfaces (mimicking the tailored, functionalized experimental silica surfaces), which allow for a molecular view on the water adsorbate structure. Summarizing, we present a comprehensive and reliable methodology for quantitatively assessing the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of siliceous nanoporous materials, which has the potential to optimize applications in heterogeneous catalysis and separation (e.g., chromatography).

Characterization of Nanoporous Materials

Detailed analysis of textural properties, e.g., pore size and connectivity, of nanoporous materials is essential to identify correlations of these properties with the performance of gas storage, separation, and catalysis processes. The advances in developing nanoporous materials with uniform, tailor-made pore structures, including the introduction of hierarchical pore systems, offer huge potential for these applications. Within this context, major progress has been made in understanding the adsorption and phase behavior of confined fluids and consequently in physisorption characterization. This enables reliable pore size, volume, and network connectivity analysis using advanced, high-resolution experimental protocols coupled with advanced methods based on statistical mechanics, such as methods based on density functional theory and molecular simulation. If macro-pores are present, a combination of adsorption and mercury porosimetry can be useful. Hence, some important recent advances in understanding the mercury intrusion/extrusion mechanism are discussed. Additionally, some promising complementary techniques for characterization of porous materials immersed in a liquid phase are introduced.

Graphene-coated materials using silica particles as a framework for highly efficient removal of aromatic pollutants in water

The substantial aggregation of pristine graphene nanosheets decreases its powerful adsorption capacity and diminishes its practical applications. To overcome this shortcoming, graphene-coated materials (GCMs) were prepared by loading graphene onto silica nanoparticles (SiO₂). With the support of SiO₂, the stacked interlamination of graphene was held open to expose the powerful adsorption sites in the interlayers. The adsorption of phenanthrene, a model aromatic pollutant, onto the loaded graphene nanosheets increased up to 100 fold compared with pristine graphene at the same level. The adsorption of GCMs increased with the loading amount of the graphene nanosheets and dramatically decreased with the introduction of oxygen-containing groups in the graphene nanosheets. The highly hydrophobic effect and the strong π-π stacking interactions of the exposed graphene nanosheets contributed to their superior adsorption of GCMs. An unusual GCM peak adsorption coefficient (K_d) was observed with the increase in sorbate concentration. The sorbate concentration at peak K_d shifted to lower values for the reduced graphene oxide and graphene relative to the graphene oxide. Therefore, the replacement of water nanodroplets attached to the graphene nanosheets through weak non-hydrogen bonding with phenanthrene molecules via strong π-π stacking interactions is hypothesized to be an additional adsorption mechanism for GCMs.

Adsorbents and columns in analytical high-performance liquid chromatography: a perspective with regard to development and understanding

A brief historical survey is presented on the evaluation of silica adsorbents in analytical HPLC. The theory of analytical HPLC is mostly still being based on the height equivalent to a theoretical plate concept and the van Deemter equation that was derived from gas phase adsorption involving a linear adsorption isotherm and fast mass transfer kinetics. One can obviously wonder whether the use of the van Deemter equation is relevant and valid for the evaluation of the performance of HPLC systems, where most often the liquid solutes involve charged molecules in electrolytes and in very many cases the adsorbates are macromolecules having diffusion coefficients of small magnitude. Instead of the van Deemter equation, a multi-scale modelling approach that involves microscopic and macroscopic dynamic non-linear mass-transfer-rate models should be employed. Furthermore, advanced experimental methods for the characterisation of porous media and the distribution of the density of immobilised active sites (e.g., ligands) on surfaces as well as microscopic pore-network modelling and molecular dynamics modelling and simulation methods could be used for the design of novel adsorbents whose porous structures and immobilised active sites would provide effective mass transport and adsorption rates for realising efficient separations as well as high dynamic capacities when larger throughputs are required.