Abstract: A rapid synthesis of mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 with nanometer size by sol-gel method under microwave radiation heating is reported. The effect of different factors, such as raw materials ratio, acidity, power and duration of microwave radiation employed in crystallization and removal of organic template processes on the morphology of the products was systemically investigated and the optimum reaction conditions were also selected. The resulting samples were characterized with such techniques as XRD, HRTEM, IR, TG, photoluminescence spectroscopy and N2 adsorption isotherm, etc. The results showed that reaction time and energy required in the synthesis of MCM-41 mesophase by microwave radiation method were greatly reduced in contrast with those needed by hydrothermal method. The samples, which displayed a hexagonal mesostructure with short-range order having pore diameter of about 2.5 nm exhibited a photoluminescence effect due to the nanometer-diameter crystallites(about 40 nm, see Fig.2～3). The as-prepared MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve was found to possess a huge surface area, pore volume and good thermal stability (see Table 3).

Key words: MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve;Microwave radiation method, Synthesis;Characterization