Facile synthesis of the cubic mesoporous material MCM-48. Detailed study of accompanying phase transformations

The synthesis of cubic mesoporous material MCM-48 has been simplified and can be accomplished via facile hydrothermal synthesis using convenient commercial reagents. The cubic structure evolves from the initially formed hexagonal MCM-41 and undergoes slow conversion to the lamellar MCM-50 precursor. The system was sampled at 1 hr intervals and the intermediate products characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and adsorption. The results are discussed from the standpoint of possible mechanisms of MCM-48 generation.