Synthesis of cubic mesoporous MCM-48 materials from the system SiO2:CTAOH/Br:H2O

By a detailed study of the pH of the synthesis gel, CTA+ concentration, temperature and time of crystallization in the formation of the different mesophases in the system SiO2:CTAOH/Br:H2O, it was found that the driving force for the different phase formation is the negative charge of the silicate oligomers formed during crystallization of the mesostructured solids which have to be balanced by the CTA+ surfactant cations. The more appropriate packing of cationic surfactant species in terms of energy minimization provokes the formation of the different phases observed by working at different pHs, temperatures or crystallization times of synthesis.