Controllable synthesis of functionalized ordered mesoporous silica by metal-based ionic liquids, and their effective adsorption of dibenzothiophene

The synthesis of mesoporous materials with metal species highly dispersed in the mesoporous channels, and which still retain a high surface area and pore volume, is a considerable challenge. In the present study, however, the synthesis of mesoporous silica, assisted by metal-based ionic liquids, has achieved this goal. The metal-containing mesoporous silica materials were synthesized using a variety of metal-based ionic liquids as templates and metal sources, including [C16mim]Cl/CuCl2, 2[C16mim]Cl/CuCl2, 3[C16mim]Cl/FeCl3, [C16mim]Cl/MnCl2, and [C16mim]Cl/NiCl2. The mesoporous materials obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, and the results confirmed that they possessed a well-ordered hexagonal structure, a high surface area (∼1400 m2 g−1), a large pore volume (∼0.8 cm3 g−1), and an accessible mesoporous structure. The metal species were highly dispersed throughout the mesoporous framework. The results indicate that these ionic liquid-functionalized metal-containing mesoporous silica materials are suitable adsorbents for the removal of dibenzothiophene from fuels.