The article compares the relative stability of MCM-41 and related
mesoporous materials in electron beam at an accelerating voltage of
100–300 kV. The work encountered in electron microscopy presents
a comparison with similar research that has been carried out on
nonporous and microporous silicates, especially α-quartz and
zeolite Y. The trends in stability are analyzed, classifying the
effects of sample preparation, organic and inorganic moieties, and
electron accelerating voltage on beam stability. A higher synthesis
temperature, the use of an acid catalyst in the synthesis, and the
presence of additional organic or inorganic material within the
channels were all found to stabilize these materials. The dose required
to completely disrupt the structure increased with accelerating voltage
for nearly all samples, suggesting a primarily radiolytic damage
mechanism. The exception, MCM-41 containing nanometer-sized titania
particles in its channels, was found to be almost insensitive to
accelerating voltage.