CO2 Capture by As-Prepared SBA-15 with an Occluded Organic Template

A novel CO2 capture phenomenon is observed by modifying as-prepared mesoporous silica SBA-15 (SBA(P)) with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), not only conserving the energy and time required for removing the template, but also opening the way to utilizing the micelle for dispersing guest species. The TEPA species dispersed within the channels of SBA(P) are highly accessible to CO2 molecules; moreover, the hydroxyl group of the poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic P123) template is able to modify the interactions between CO2 and the amine to enhance the adsorptive capacity of this system. The remarkably high adsorption capacity (173 mg g–1) of this mesoporous silica–amine composite suggests potential CO2 trapping applications, especially at low CO2 concentrations during prolonged cyclic operations.