The atomic local ordering of SBA-15 studied with pair distribution function analysis, and its relationship to porous structure and thermal stability

The atomic-scale structure of amorphous SBA-15 materials with different pore sizes (6.7–12.7 nm) was investigated using pair distribution functions calculated from the X-ray total scattering data. The data was collected with a laboratory X-ray powder diffraction instrument instead of a synchrotron often considered necessary for pair distribution function analysis. A 3D model of the atomic structure within the pore walls was determined based on...