Effects of gas–solid reaction on liquid defiltration in a MCM-41

Through a pressure-induced infiltration experiment, it is validated that the degree of hydrophobicity of the nanopore surfaces of a MCM-41 can be increased through gas–solid treatment. Compared with the effects of liquid–solid treatment, the infiltration pressure does not vary much while the defiltration pressure is higher, indicating that the reversibility of confined liquid motion is improved; that is, the sorption curve is less hysteretic. The liquid composition and the post-treatment procedure also have considerable influences on the infiltration and defiltration behaviors.