The effect of solvent type on the synthesis of mesoporous alumina using triblock copolymer P123

In this study، mesoporous alumina powder was synthesized by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method in the presence of two different solvent types، including ethanol and tetrahydrofuran. The alumina powder was prepared using aluminum isopropoxide and aluminum nitrate as precursors and Pluronic P123 as a polymer template for the self-assembly. As-prepared powders were characterized by thermal analysis (DTA/TG) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After calcination at 400 ºC for 8 h، the samples were evaluated using nitrogen adsorption- desorption isotherms، small and wide angle X-ray diffraction، scanning probe microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results of FTIR and DTA/TG confirmed elimination of the surfactant after calcination. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms showed type IV، which is a characteristic of mesoporous materials. The prepared sample in ethanol and tetrahydrofuran showed H2 and H3 hysteresis loops characteristic، indicating wormlike and slit-like pores، respectively. The surface area and pore volume for the prepared samples in ethanol were 100 m2/g and 0. 35 cm3/g and those for the prepared samples in tetrahydrofuran were 120 m2/g and 0. 4 cm3/g، respectively. The BJH results showed a narrower pore size distribution when tetrahydrofuran was used as solvent.