Characterization and acidic properties of silica pillared titanates

Reaction of alkylammonium titanates with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) res ulted in the intercalation and polymerization of TEOS between the titanate sheets. After heating to 500 degreesC, the basal spacing of pillared silica titanates increased with increasing length of the alkylamine chains and th e amount of silicon intercalated. Although the layers of pillared titanates were expanded by the silica species, and the specific surface area increas ed, only negligible micropores were formed, suggesting that the interlayer region was "stuffed" with the pillaring species. The adsorption of pyridine indicated the formation of strong Bronsted acid sites up to 300 degreesC. In addition some basic Lewis sites were detected on silica pillared titanat es.