Mesoporous Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves Synthesized under Nonaqueous Conditions

Long-chain n-alkylamine surfactants have been used as structure-directing agents in the synthesis of mesoporous aluminophosphates by a highly cooperative formation mechanism in an alcoholic system. Small amounts of water in the synthesis mixture play a significant role in the hydrolysis of the aluminum precursor (Al[OiPr]3) and are important for the quality of the mesostructured products. The materials exhibit disordered mesostructures, the stability and structural order of which can be improved by a postsynthetic thermal treatment. The products are then stable enough for the removal of the surfactant molecules by acidic solvent extraction, yielding surface areas up to 690 m2/g.