The adsorption behavior of butyl xanthate on the surface of lead oxide was investigated using continuous online in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy technique and two dimensional (2D) correlation analysis. The adsorbed layer studied was prepared by coating α-PbO particles onto the surfaces of the ZnSe crystal. The appearance of spectral peaks at 1203 cm−1, 1033 cm−1 and their red shift indicated the formation and aggregation of xanthate at the surface of α-PbO. According to IR intensity changes after rinsing with deionized water and a NaOH solution, the adsorption was proved to be a chemisorption type. The competition between xanthate and OH− for the surfaces leads to desorption of xanthate at higher pH. The technique of 2D correlation ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to evaluate the changing order of spectral intensities in the adsorption process, and the results indicated that xanthate micelles were formed at the surfaces. The adsorption kinetics of butyl xanthate was found to be a pseudo-second-order reaction model and the adsorption capacity of butyl xanthate at α-PbO was as high as 281 mg g−1 after 150 min.The appearance of spectral peaks at 1203 cm−1, 1033 cm−1 and their red shift indicated the formation and aggregation of xanthate at the surface of α-PbO.

Highly thermostable mesoporous zinc aluminate spinel ZnAl2O4 with adjustable textures and unusually high specific surface areas have been synthesized through a co-precipitation method using a mixed structure directing agent of butylamine and alkanols with different lengths of straight carbon chain. Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques were used to characterize the prepared samples. The results indicate that the pore size for mesoporous ZnAl2O4 calcinated at 500 °C was 3.1 nm when butylamine and hexanol were used as the mixed structure directing agent, and it could be enlarged to 4.5 and 5.0 nm through changing the alkanol to decanol and dodecanol, respectively. Correspondingly, the pore volume and surface area also exhibited an augmentation with increasing the carbon chain length of the alkanol from C6 to C12. The specific surface area of ZnAl2O4 obtained by using butylamine and dodecanol and calcinating at 500 °C is as high as 298 m2 g−1 and its total pore volume reaches 0.54 cm3 g−1.

Pore size and pore volume adjustable mesoporous ZnS was synthesized through a co-template method, which was achieved by the combined interaction between butylamine and some alkanols with proper lengths of the straight carbon chain. The pore size for mesoporous ZnS templated by butyl amine alone was 4.29 nm, and could be enlarged to 6.96 and 8.33 nm respectively through adding certain amounts of hexanol and octanol. Correspondingly, the pore volume also exhibited an augmentation with increasing carbon chain lengths of alkanols from C6 to C8. However, the pore size and pore volume dropped abruptly when decanol was added as the auxiliary agent. The formation of mesopores for ZnS prepared using butylamine molecules as the only templating agent is considered to be attributed to the coordination between N atoms in amines and Zn2+ ions at the surfaces of zinc suphide. The templating effect of butylamines might be improved by adding hexanols and octanols to form aggregates through solubilization to tailor the pore size and pore volume of ZnS effectively, while the function of decanols for changing the porous structure is restricted by its low solubility.Graphical abstractThis article demonstrated that the pore diameter and pore volume of mesoporous ZnS can be adjusted by the combined effects of coordination and solubilization in the mixed templates of butyl amine and alkanols.Highlights► Synthesizing ZnS nanoparticles using zinc acetate and thioacetamide as precursors. ► Making mesoporous ZnS using short carbon chain butyl amine as the template. ► Tailoring pore size adjustable mesostructured ZnS by combined effects of butyl amine and alkanols with varying carbon chain length. ► Obtaining size adjustable mesoporous ZnS after removing template.

Hollow In2O3 spheres were prepared via a P123-assisted one-step solvothermal process for the first time. Ethanol medium played a key role in the direct cubic In2O3 phase formation whereas the triblock copolymer acted as a structure directing agent in the formation of the hollow spheres. The gas sensing properties of the as-prepared In2O3 hollow spheres were investigated. Compared to the products synthesized without P123, the In2O3 hollow spheres exhibited much faster response and higher sensitivity toward HCHO vapor.Highlights► In2O3 hollow spheres were prepared via one-step solvothermal process. ► The reaction temperature is much lower than that used in traditional methods. ► In2O3 hollow spheres exhibited high sensitivity toward HCHO vapor.

Pore size adjustable mesoporous silica was synthesized by adsorption of varying amounts of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate at the surface of silica activated by zinc ion via a novel surface charge reversal route. The pore size and volume can be adjusted from 5.9 to 13.76 nm and 0.88 to 1.08 cm3 g−1, respectively, with increasing the SDBS concentration from 0.77 to 3.08 mmol L−1. Adsorption of Zn2+ as a function of pH and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms demonstrated that the metal ions such as Zn2+ could be readily removed with dilute nitric acid without apparent collapse of the pore structure at the proper range of SDBS concentration.Graphical abstractThis paper demonstrates that the surface charge reversal caused by adsorption of zinc ions could be an effective approach for synthesizing pore adjustable silica.Research highlights► Using TEOS as a silica source. ► Adsorption of divalent metal ions at the surfaces of silica. ► Adding SDBS as a template. ► Formation of mesostructured silica. ► Obtaining the mesoporous silica after calcinations.

Mesoporous alumina (MA) samples with high surface area and comparatively narrow pore size distributions were synthesized for the first time using aluminium powder as an aluminium source and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a structure directing agent via a sol–gel method in alkaline solution. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), powder X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques were used to characterize the MA samples. The results indicate that the alkali metal ions used in the preparation play a significant role in determining the crystalline structure and morphology of the synthesized MA. In comparison with using aluminium chloride, γ-Al2O3 forms more readily using aluminium powder.

In this paper, mesoporous alumina with different pore sizes and wall crystalline structures was synthesized at calcination temperatures over 550 °C. The characterization of the samples calcined at 550, 800, 1100, and 1300 °C, respectively, was performed using TEM, XRD, FTIR, TG/DTA, and N2 adsorption/desorption techniques. The correlation between pore size and wall crystalline structure on calcination temperature was systematically investigated.XRD results of as-synthesized mesostructured alumina (A) and MA after calcination at 550 °C (B), 800 °C (C), 1100 °C (D), and 1300 °C (E) confirm the formation of MA with different crystalline structures.

In this research, synthesis of mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles with average pore diameter up to 7.57 nm and the BET surface area as high as 354 m2 g−1 through a co-template approach was reported. The testing results indicate that the pore diameter is enlargeable by selecting co-template. The role of co-template is also discussed.

In this paper, surface physiochemical properties of three typical aluminas, γ-Al(OH)3, γ-Al2O3, and α-Al2O3, were investigated by means of XRD, SEM, TEM, BET surface area, TG/DTA, and potentiometric titration techniques. Based on the titration data, surface protonation and deprotonation constants were determined using the constant capacitance model (CCM). The emphasis of this research was laid on the comparison of the crystal structure, surface hydration/dehydration and acid–base properties of these three typical alumina minerals. The calculation results revealed that the surface acidity of the aluminas is in the order of α-Al2O3>γ-Al(OH)3>γ-Al2O3α-Al2O3>γ-Al(OH)3>γ-Al2O3 after being hydrated for 1 h. The correlation between the hydration/dehydration mechanisms of alumina and its acid/base properties is discussed.The surface hydration process of α-Al2O3 may be regarded as a reversible process of gibbsite dehydration. At the last stage of the hydration the gibbsite surface may form.

Highly thermostable mesoporous zinc aluminate spinel ZnAl2O4 with adjustable textures and unusually high specific surface areas have been synthesized through a co-precipitation method using a mixed structure directing agent of butylamine and alkanols with different lengths of straight carbon chain. Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques were used to characterize the prepared samples. The results indicate that the pore size for mesoporous ZnAl2O4 calcinated at 500 °C was 3.1 nm when butylamine and hexanol were used as the mixed structure directing agent, and it could be enlarged to 4.5 and 5.0 nm through changing the alkanol to decanol and dodecanol, respectively. Correspondingly, the pore volume and surface area also exhibited an augmentation with increasing the carbon chain length of the alkanol from C6 to C12. The specific surface area of ZnAl2O4 obtained by using butylamine and dodecanol and calcinating at 500 °C is as high as 298 m2 g−1 and its total pore volume reaches 0.54 cm3 g−1.

Mesoporous alumina (MA) samples with high surface area and comparatively narrow pore size distributions were synthesized for the first time using aluminium powder as an aluminium source and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a structure directing agent via a sol–gel method in alkaline solution. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), powder X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques were used to characterize the MA samples. The results indicate that the alkali metal ions used in the preparation play a significant role in determining the crystalline structure and morphology of the synthesized MA. In comparison with using aluminium chloride, γ-Al2O3 forms more readily using aluminium powder.