Structure analysis of mesoporous material 'FSM-16' - Studies by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction

High-resolution electron micrographs and X-ray powder diffraction patterns for the mesoporous material FSM-16 and for silicate-organic complexes derived from the layered polysilicate kanemite are presented. HREM studies reveal information about the formation mechanism at the nanometer length scale, and X-ray powder diffraction data provides information about the averaged structure in the samples. It is demonstrated that the FSM-16 material is formed from the layered silicate kanemite through making a domain structure with hexagonal symmetry by condensation of silicate, which might be derivative of kanemite sheets, and the 'folded sheet mechanism' should be modified. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.