Coherent Analysis of Disordered Mesoporous Adsorbents using Small Angle X Ray Scattering and Physisorption Experiments

Characterization of mesoporous adsorbents is traditionally performed in terms of the pore size distribution with bulk methods like physisorption and mercury intrusion. But their application relies on assumptions regarding the basic pore geometry. Although novel tools have enabled the quantitative interpretation of physisorption data for adsorbents having a well defined pore structure the analysis of disordered mesoporosity still remains challenging. Here we show that small angle X ray scattering SAXS combined with chord length distribution CLD analysis presents a precise and convenient approach to determine the structural properties of two phase solid void systems of mesopores. Characteristic wall solid and pore void sizes as well as surface areas are extracted without the need to assume a certain pore shape. The mesoporous structure of modern, commercially available fully porous and core shell adsorbent particles is examined by SAXS CLD analysis. Mean pore size and surface area are compared with results obtained from nitrogen physisorption data and show excellent agreemen