Synthesis and surface properties of Ti-containing mesoporous aluminophosphates. A comparison with Ti-grafted mesoporous silica Ti-MCM-41

Mesoporous aluminophosphates (ALPO) was synthesised using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMABr) as a structure-directing agent, phosphoric acid and aluminum sulfate as sources of structure elements. Ti(IV) ions were introduced into mesoporous ALPO by grafting titanocene dichloride, [Cp₂TiCl₂], onto the P-OH and Al-OH groups exposed in the channels. FTIR spectroscopy was used to study surface hydroxyls, and by the use of NH₃ as molecular probe, to assess the surface acidity of both meso-ALPO and meso-Ti-ALPO materials. The coordination of Ti(IV) centres in Ti-ALPO material was studied using DR UV-Vis spectroscopy.