Intern: Sara
Research Mentor: Chris
Faculty Sponsor: Galen Stucky
Project Title: Synthesis and Characterization of MCM-41 Containing Aluminum
and Iron
As a summer student under Dr. Chris Landry, a post-doctoral research
associate at UCSB, I have synthesized a silaceous mesoporous structure called
MCM-41 while incorporating aluminum and iron into the walls. MCM-41 was
originally developed by Mobil Oil Corporation due to its potential applications
in hydrocarbon cracking and various catalytic properties. Currently, silicate
structures known as zeolites are used, but they have relatively low surface
area because the pores are typically 5-158 Å across. Mesoporous silicates
would be more desirable since they have pores ranging from 20-100 Å
and a significantly larger surface area. In order to use these materials
for catalysis, there needs to be a charge associated with the molecule.
Pure silicates have a neutral charge and won't interact with other substances.
In order to create acidic sites in the structure, aluminum was added. Most
of the first row of transition metals have been successfuUy used, but aluminum
was chosen because of its similar size to silicon and the fact that when
it is four-coordinate, it has a negative charge that requires positively
charged molecules to balance the system. I have also incorporated iron into
the structure using organometallic sources to give the material magnetic
and electric properties as well. Most of my work this summer has involved
the characterization of these mesopores. Since these "metal-doped"
materials are fairly new, little testing has been done on them to determine
their exact acidity, in the case of alumino-silicates, or magnetivity, in
the case of ferro-silicates. Ultraviolet/visible and infrared spectroscopy
were used and a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID).
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