Research Information System
Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol.442, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The incorporation of iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) on mesoporous aluminosilicate (MAS) derived from Lapindo volcanic mud was successfully achieved by synthesizing MAS via a sol–gel technique, followed by modification with varying amounts of Fe2O3 through a simple wet impregnation method. Incorporating iron (III) oxide on the MAS surface amounted to 5, 10 and 15 wt% by Fe. Comprehensive characterization including XRF, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, HRTEM-SAED, N₂ adsorption–desorption, and FTIR-pyridine confirmed the successful transformation of LM into highly porous MAS and the effective incorporation of Fe2O3. Detailed analysis of the structural, textural, and surface properties of nanocomposites revealed substantial enhancements. XRF analysis revealed a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 6.18. XRD and FTIR results confirmed the successful incorporation of Fe2O3 into the MAS matrix, as evidenced by raised peak intensities of Fe2O3. Morphological observations from SEM and HRTEM showed progressive surface coverage of MAS with Fe₂O₃ as the loading increased. Intriguingly, incorporating Fe2O3 on the MAS improves the mesoporosity of nanocomposites. Each of them has a specific surface area of 170.16, 186.38, and 224.97 m2g−1 for the 5, 10, and 15 wt%, respectively. Incorporating Fe2O3 on MAS also improves the amount of acid sites of the nanocomposites. The highest Lewis acid degree is obtained by incorporating 15 wt% of Fe. The amount of Lewis acid sites of 15Fe2O3/MAS closely approaches that of pure Fe2O3, suggesting optimal dispersion of iron (III) oxide species on the MAS surface. These findings highlight the novel synthesis method and the enhanced physicochemical properties of Fe2O3/MAS nanocomposites, presenting potential material for advanced technological applications.