Synthesis of mesoporous zirconia with mixed amphoteric-nonionic surfactants as templates

Using the mixture of amphoteric surfantant cocamidopropyl betaine(CAPB) and nonionic surfantant triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 as templates, and zirconyl chloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2.8H(2)O) as zirconium resource, ordered mesoporous zirconia with hexagonal structure was synthesized by hydrothermal process. The influences of reaction temperature and molar ratio of Zr/surfactants on the structures and properties of mesoporous zirconia were studied by adsorption-desorption isotherms of N-2, transmission electron micrographs (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Evidence showed that ordered and hexagonal mesoporous zirconia was synthesized when the molar ratio of Zr/CAPB was 1.0 and the reaction temperature was 40 degreesC. When the molar ratio of Zr/P123 was optimal, the pore size, pore volume and surface area of the mesoporous zirconia were increased while a well ordered structure of pore array was maintained.