Double Resonance NMR Study of Mesoscopic Interaction between Surfactant and Silica-Alumina during the Direct Synthesis of AlSBA-15 Mesoporous Solids

We have recently synthesized acid A1SBA-15 mesoporous solids with regular channels and very high thermal and hydrothermal stability [1]. A1SBA-15 materials retain the hexagonal order and physical properties of purely siliceous SBA-15. They present higher thermal stability and catalytic activity in cumene cracking reaction than A1MCM-41 solids. To better understand the origin of these improved properties, textural results from N2 porosity measurements are confronted with molecular scale double resonance MAS NMR results in order to discuss the incorporation of Al and the interpenetration of the organic/inorganic phases during synthesis.