Al-promoted increase of surface area and adsorption capacity in ordered mesoporous silica materials with a cubic structure.

The structure of ordered mesoporous materials presenting a cubic structure undergoes a strong modification after adding aluminium alkoxides to the synthesis gel. As a result, an outstanding increase in the surface area and pore volume is observed, together with changes in the mesopore ordering. Hydrated aluminium species influence the chemical environment of the micelles during synthesis, which seems to induce the accumulation of stacking faults in the mesopore framework, and give rise to closer structural packing. The adsorption and release of ibuprofen as a test molecule correlates well with the textural changes observed.