Modification of Zeolite Morphology via NH4F Etching for Catalytic Bioalcohol Conversion

Various commercial zeolites, including FER, MOR, ZSM-5, BEA, and FAU frameworks, were treated with NH₄F aqueous solutions to study the effects of fluoride etching on different zeolite frameworks. NH₄F-treated small-medium pore FER, MOR, and ZSM-5 samples showed much higher mesoporosities than the untreated ones without alteration of the structural compositions and acidic properties. On the other hand, the 12-membered ring zeolites BEA and FAU showed severe dissolution of the framework aluminosilicate structure after NH₄F etching due to the high accessibility of fluoride species into the framework structures. The effect of NH₄F concentration on the fluoride treatment of H-ZSM-5 zeolite was specifically studied. From the results, we observed that structural etching with 20 wt % NH₄F was optimal for fabricating open-pore H-ZSM-5 zeolite and resulted in a high mesoporosity with comparable relative crystallinity and acidity with respect to the untreated H-ZSM-5. The catalytic activities of the open-pore H-ZSM-5 were evaluated with acid-catalyzed methanol and bioethanol conversions. Remarkably, the hierarchical open-pore H-ZSM-5 zeolite fabricated via fluoride etching exhibited an enhanced catalytic performance in bioethanol conversion with >85 % conversion over 34 h TOS and a higher catalytic stability in methanol conversion than the parent H-ZSM-5 (~50 % of bioethanol conversion at 34 h TOS).     

The Link between ZSM-5 Zeolite Crystallization and Mesopore Formation by Leaching

Acid or base leaching are well-established tools in the synthesis of mesoporous zeolites. Previous studies suggest an inherent link between the structure-property relationship of mesoporous zeolites, that is, chemical resistance, pore diameter and distribution, with zeolite synthesis or crystallization conditions. The exact nature and/or origin of this link is currently however, poorly established. Here, we provide evidence how zeolite crystallization conditions influence the leaching behavior and thus structure of mesoporous zeolites. Electron microscopy and in situ small angle X-ray scattering both confirmed the crystallization of ZSM-5 to utilize both nanoparticles and oligomers as elemental building blocks. Utilization of these species is highly depended on supersaturation. The precursor solution of decreased water content favored a faster consumption of nanoparticles compared to its oligomers at the early stage of crystallization. Then the addition of oligomers can heal the surface imperfections and thus the resulting zeolite showed a higher resistance against acid leaching. In contrast, within the precursor solution of increased water content the slower consumption of nanoparticles led to crystals with a less robust rim. Defects existed in the rim due to limited healing by oligomers and, as such, mesopores can be created by the following post-treatment. Precise control over selected crystallization conditions can therefore further aid the design of optimized mesoporous zeolites.     

Offretite Zeolite Single Crystals Synthesized by Amphiphile-Templating Approach

Offretite zeolite synthesis in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) is reported. The offretite crystals were synthesized with a high crystallinity and hexagonal prismatic shape after only 72 h of hydrothermal treatment at 180 °C. The CTABr has dual-functions during the crystallization of offretite, viz. as structure-directing agent and as mesoporogen. The resulting offretite crystals, with a Si/Al ratio of 4.1, possess more acid sites than the conventional offretite due to their high crystallinity and hierarchical structure. The synthesized offretite is also more reactive than its conventional counterpart in the acylation of 2-methylfuran for biofuel production under non-microwave instant heating condition, giving 83.5% conversion with 100% selectivity to the desired product 2-acetyl-5-methylfuran. Hence, this amphiphile synthesis approach offers another cost-effective and alternative route for crystallizing zeolite materials that require expensive organic templates.     

3D Study of the Morphology and Dynamics of Zeolite Nucleation

The principle aspects and constraints of the dynamics and kinetics of zeolite nucleation in hydrogel systems are analyzed on the basis of a model Na‐rich aluminosilicate system. A detailed time‐series EMT‐type zeolite crystallization study in the model hydrogel system was performed to elucidate the topological and temporal aspects of zeolite nucleation. A comprehensive set of analytical tools and methods was employed to analyze the gel evolution and complement the primary methods of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. TEM tomography reveals that the initial gel particles exhibit a core–shell structure. Zeolite nucleation is topologically limited to this shell structure and the kinetics of nucleation is controlled by the shell integrity. The induction period extends to the moment when the shell is consumed and the bulk solution can react with the core of the gel particles. These new findings, in particular the importance of the gel particle shell in zeolite nucleation, can be used to control the growth process and properties of zeolites formed in hydrogels.     

Electron Microscopy Studies of Local Structural Modulations in Zeolite Crystals

Zeolites are widely used in catalysis, gas separation, ion exchange, etc. due to their superior physicochemical properties, which are closely related to specific features of their framework structures. Although more than two hundred different framework types have been recognized, it is of great interest to explore from a crystallographic perspective, the atomic positions, surface terminations, pore connectivity and structural defects that deviate from the ideal framework structures, namely local structural modulation. In this article, we review different types of local modulations in zeolite frameworks using various techniques, especially electron microscopy (EM). The most recent advances in resolving structural information at the atomic level with aberration corrected EM are also presented, commencing a new era of gaining atomic structural information, not only for all tetrahedral atoms including point vacancies in framework but also for extra-framework cations and surface terminations.     

Engineering Nanoarchitectures for Photonic Crystals

The detailed shape of the dense material network of inverse opals has a significant influence on the appearance of band gaps in these photonic crystals. One example of these topologically very similar networks is the skeleton structure, which can show two complete band gaps. Like all inverse opals, these structures are self‐standing and can be fabricated via self‐assembly strategies. The first step for obtaining these novel kind of photonic crystals has been achieved by synthesizing a titania skeleton structure.     

Laser Control of Zeolite Nucleation

Precursor solutions for the synthesis of zeolites are irradiated by means of a Nd‐YAG laser. These solutions are subsequently submitted to a hydrothermal treatment and the results analyzed by X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Laser irradiation promotes the formation of silica nanoparticles that nucleate into zeolite (silicalite‐1), following a hydrothermal treatment. The average crystal size (in the 0.6–3.6 μm range) of the zeolite exponentially decreases as a function of laser irradiation time. In addition, a longer irradiation time results in a narrower crystal size distribution.     

淀粉作用下沸石晶体的链状组装

采用淀粉辅助水热合成方法,得到了特殊的一维链状纯硅沸石分子筛。结果表明在淀粉作用下,多个分子筛晶粒在晶轴b方向的表面之间存在强的相互作用使得分子筛晶粒沿此方向自组织成一维链状结构,所得材料非常均匀,乙醇的加入会使得这些一维聚集体的侧向团聚增加。     

Probing Mass Transfer in Mesoporous Faujasite‐Type Zeolite Nanosheet Assemblies

Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusion studies are performed by using cyclohexane to probe transport properties in a NaX‐type zeolite with a hierarchical pore structure (house‐of‐cards‐like assemblies of mesoporous nanosheets), which is compared with a purely microporous sample. With guest loadings chosen to ensure saturation of the micropores, and the meso‐ and macropores left essentially unoccupied, guest diffusion is shown to be enhanced by almost one order of magnitude, even at room temperature. Diffusivity enhancement is further increased with increasing temperature, which may, therefore, be unambiguously attributed to the contribution of mass transfer in the meso‐ and macropores.     

以开孔的二维MFI纳米片为构筑单元制备沸石片膜

以食人鱼溶液(体积比为3∶1的95%～98%(w/w)H_2SO_4和30%(w/w)H_2O_2混合液)处理多层MFI(ML-MFI)除去有机结构导向剂(OSDA),经超声剥离和沉降纯化后得到了开孔的MFI沸石纳米片。采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、N_2吸附-脱附、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)和热重分析(TGA)等手段对得到的MFI沸石纳米片进行表征,发现食人鱼溶液处理可移除ML-MFI中的OSDA,再经超声剥离得到可分散、开孔的MFI沸石纳米片。将MFI沸石纳米片用简单抽滤的方式沉积到自制Al_2O_3载体上,不经二次生长得到了连续的沸石纳米片膜。单组分气体渗透性能测试结果表明,制备的MFI沸石纳米片膜对正/异丁烷的理想选择性为4.1～5.8,正丁烷的渗透速率为2.2×10~(-7)～4.1×10~(-7) mol·m~(-2)·s~(-1)·Pa~(-1)。     

Cancer‐Cell Imaging Using Copper‐Doped Zeolite Imidazole Framework‐8 Nanocrystals Exhibiting Oxidative Catalytic Activity

Copper‐doped zeolite imidazole framework‐8 (Cu/ZIF‐8) was prepared and its peroxidase‐like oxidative catalytic activity was examined with a demonstration of its applicability for cancer‐cell imaging. Through simple solution chemistry at room temperature, Cu/ZIF‐8 nanocrystals were produced that catalytically oxidized an organic substrate of o‐phenylenediamine in the presence of H₂O₂. In a similar manner to peroxidase, the Cu/ZIF‐8 nanocrystals oxidized the substrate through a ping‐pong mechanism with an activation energy of 59.2 kJ mol⁻¹. The doped Cu atoms functioned as active sites in which the active Cu intermediates were expected to be generated during the catalysis, whereas the undoped ZIF‐8 did not show any oxidative activity. Cu/ZIF‐8 nanocrystals exhibited low cell toxicity and displayed catalytic activity through interaction with H₂O₂ among various reactive oxygen species in a cancer cell. This oxidative activity in vitro allowed cancer‐cell imaging by exploiting the photoluminescence emitted from the oxidized product of o‐phenylenediamine, which was insignificant in the absence of the Cu/ZIF‐8 nanocrystals. The results of this study suggest that the Cu/ZIF‐8 nanocrystal is a promising catalyst for the analysis of the microbiological systems.     

Preparation and Charactrization of Fibrous Crystals of Boron-containing MTW-type Zeolite

Fibrous crystals of boron-containing MTW-type zeolite have been hydrothermally synthesized in B2O3-SiO2-HF-H2O gel system at 170℃ in 20 to 28d by using 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) and methylamine as the co-template, and characterized with XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM and SAED. The results of characterizations show that B atoms are incorporated into the zeolite framework as tetrahedron of B(OSi)4. The fibrous single crystals of 5-50μm in length and 100-500nm in width inter-grow along the c-axis of the zeolite, and the one dimension 12 oxygen ring channels are perpendicular to the fibber axis.     

Chemical Synthesis,Structure Characterization,and Optical Properties of Hollow PbSx–Solid Au Heterodimer Nanostructures

Heterodimer nanostructures have attracted extensive attention, owing to an increasing degree of complexity, functionality, and then importance. So far, all the reported ones are built from solid nanoparticles. Herein, nearly monodisperse heterodimer nanostructures are constructed by hollow PbS_x and solid Au domains simultaneously through a mild reaction between PbS nanocrystals and the gold species in the presence of dodecylamine. Control experiments clearly reveal the underlying formation mechanism of the hollow PbS_x–solid Au heterodimers. The Au^III species in the solution, lead to the etching of PbS nanocrystals and the Au^I species facilitate the control of the number of gold domains per nanoparticle. Dodecylamine molecules not only work as a stabilizer in the reaction, but also act as a reducing agent that could greatly affect the morphology of the product. The optical properties of the heterodimers are investigated based on UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. This novel heterodimer nanostructure pushes the development of complex nanocrystal‐based architectures forward, and also provides many opportunities for potential applications.