ACS Omega 2025 May 10;1022:23374-23386. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c01826.

Effect of Ionic Liquids on the Structural Properties of SBA-15/CeO2 Nanocomposites.

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Ordered mesoporous silica materials have attracted considerable attention due to their unique structural, textural, and morphological properties, alongside their versatile applications in catalysis, adsorption, and drug delivery systems. This study explores the influence of ionic liquids (ILs) on the synthesis of SBA-15 and SBA-15/CeO2 nanocomposites. DMIBr (1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide) and DMIBF4(1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) were the analyzed ILs. The objective was to evaluate how these ILs modulate the structural, textural, and morphological properties of the resulting nanocomposites. SAXS analysis confirmed the formation of well-ordered mesoporous structures with hexagonal arrangements, corroborating with physisorption data and TEM images. XRD measurements confirmed the presence of CeO2 nanoparticles within the nanocomposites, exhibiting a fluorite-type cubic crystal structure, supported by Raman spectroscopy, which identified characteristic peaks corresponding to Ce-O vibrational modes. XPS analysis provided detailed insights into the surface chemistry, revealing the presence of Ce3+ and Ce4+ ions, oxygen species, and their interaction with the silica matrix. The Ce3+ ions, associated with oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 lattice, were identified as key active sites for adsorption and catalysis. SEM images displayed distinct morphologies of the nanocomposites, attributed to the specific used IL. These results underscore the pivotal role of ILs in tailoring the properties of SBA-15/CeO2 nanocomposites, offering valuable knowledge for their potential applications in diverse fields.

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