Monolayer sorption of neon in mesoporous silica glass as monitored by WAXS

TL;DR

This study uses WAXS to monitor neon monolayer sorption in mesoporous silica, introducing a model for surface area measurement independent of thermodynamic assumptions.

Contribution

A new non-thermodynamic approach for surface area determination using WAXS data during neon sorption in mesoporous silica.

Findings

Successful modeling of diffraction intensity increase during monolayer formation

Demonstration of a surface area measurement method independent of thermodynamic models

Validation of the approach with experimental data

Abstract

We report measurements of the x-ray scattering intensity as mesoporous glasses are filled with Neon. We outline a simple model to account for the non-linear increase in the intensity of the first peak in a liquid-like diffraction pattern as a monolayer is formed. This allows us to demonstrate an approach for surface area determination which does not rely on thermodynamic models, and is therefore complimentary to existing models.