Hydrothermally stable thioether-bridged mesoporous materials with void defects in the pore walls

Hydrothermally stable thioether-bridged mesoporous materials have been synthesized by one-step co-condensation of 1,4-bis(triethoxysily)propane tetrasulfide (TESPTS) with tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) using cetyltrimethylammonimum bromide (CTAB) as the surfactant in basic conditions. The ordered mesoporous materials can be formed with a wide range of thioether concentrations in the mesoporous framework, as is seen by X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization. The results of N(2) sorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal that the materials synthesized with TESPTS/TMOS molar ratios in the range 1:8-1:3 have extensive structural defect holes in the nanochannels. All materials exhibit enhanced hydrothermal stability, which is in proportion to the concentration of thioether bridging in the mesoporous framework. The thioether-functionalized mesoporous materials are efficient adsorbents for removing Hg(2+) and phenol from waste water. The Hg(2+)-adsorption capacity of the material can be as high as 1500 mg g(-1).