Sol-Gel Synthesis of Mesoporous Calcium Silicate Humidity-Regulating Material and Its Performance

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1182

Abstract

Abstract:

To achieve efficient environmental humidity regulation while reducing energy consumption， this study focused on the pore structure design and performance optimization of mesoporous calcium silicate materials with humidity-regulating capabilities. Employing the sol-gel method combined with vacuum drying， with tetraethyl orthosilicate （TEOS） as the silicon source and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate （Ca（NO₃）₂·4H₂O） as the calcium source， the effects of alcohol-water ratio （molar ratio， n（C₂H₅OH）/n（H₂O）=1/2~1/6）， calcium-silicon ratio （molar ratio， n（Ca）/n（Si）=0.9/1~1.5/1）， and calcination temperature （100~1 000 ℃） on the material structure and properties were systematically investigated. Systematic characterization via FT-IR， XRD， SEM， BET， TG-DTG， and 24 h moisture adsorption/desorption tests revealed structure-property relationships between these parameters and the material’s pore structure， phase composition， and humidity-regulating performance. Results indicate that under optimized conditions of an alcohol-water ratio of 1/4， a calcium-silicon ratio of 1.4/1， and a calcination temperature of 500 ℃， the material exhibits a narrowly distributed mesoporous structure （3.8~20.8 nm） with outstanding humidity-regulating capabilities （24 h moisture absorption rate of 207.36%； 24 h moisture desorption rate of 172.17%）. This study provides a systematic process route and theoretical foundation for developing high-performance mesoporous calcium silicate humidity-regulating materials， holding positive significance for advancing building energy efficiency and green humidity-regulating materials.

Key words: mesoporous, calcium silicate, pore size distribution, adsorption, desorption, 24 h moisture adsorption and desorption rate

CLC Number:

TB34

YANG Xue, JIANG Hongyi. Sol-Gel Synthesis of Mesoporous Calcium Silicate Humidity-Regulating Material and Its Performance[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(6): 2160-2170.

Figures/Tables 21

Fig.1 Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples with different alcohol-water ratios

Fig.2 Pore size distribution curves of samples with different alcohol-water ratios

Fig.3 Pore volume and specific surface area curves of samples with different alcohol-water ratios

Fig.4 SEM images of sample with ethanol-water ratio of 1/4

Fig.5 24 h moisture absorption and desorption rate curves of samples with different alcohol-water ratios

Fig.6 Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples with different calcium-silicon ratios

Fig.7 Pore size distribution curves of samples with different calcium-silicon ratios

Fig.8 Pore volume and specific surface area curves of samples with different calcium-silicon ratios

Fig.9 FT-IR spectra of samples with calcium-silicon ratios of 0/1， 1.0/1， and 1.4/1

Fig.10 24 h moisture absorption and desorption rate curves of samples with different calcium-silicon ratios

Fig.11 Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples calcined at temperatures ranging from 100 ℃ to 500 ℃

Fig.12 Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples calcined at temperatures ranging from 500 ℃ to 1 000 ℃

Fig.13 Pore size distribution curves of samples at different calcination temperatures

Fig.14 Pore volume and specific surface area curves of samples at different calcination temperatures

Fig.15 SEM images of samples at different calcination temperatures

Fig.16 TG-DTG curves of gel samples dried under vacuum at 60 ℃ for 4 h

Fig.17 FT-IR spectra of dried gel and samples calcined at 100， 400， and 500 ℃

Fig.18 FT-IR spectra of samples calcined at 500， 600， 700， and 1 000 ℃

Fig.19 XRD patterns of samples calcined at temperatures ranging from 100 ℃ to 500 ℃

Fig.20 XRD patterns of samples calcined at temperatures ranging from 600 ℃ to 1 000 ℃

Fig.21 24 h moisture absorption and desorption rate curves of samples at different calcination temperatures

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