Zeolite inclusion complexes

Zeolites provide the largest and most useful family of porous host crystals, stable in the presence or absence of guest molecules. An account is given of their structural characteristics in terms of intracrystalline channels and cavities of molecular dimensions; their total intracrystalline pore volumes; and the intracrystalline distribution patterns of guest molecules, often present as clusters or filaments. The way in which the shape and size of the molecules relate to the shape and size of the apertures or windows giving access to the cavities, together with other factors such as cation location, then determine molecule sieving behaviour, which is discussed with reference to several types of zeolite sieve. The relation between diffusivity and molecular dimensions is also illustrated. A comparison between zeolites and clathrate host lattices shows that there are strong similarities of several kinds. Zeolites may form inclusion complexes with metals, salts and polar or non-polar molecules, examples of which are briefly considered, together with isotherms for some of these types of complex. An account of equilibrium and its formulation demonstrates the thermodynamic background and illustrates the degree of success which has been obtained in describing isotherms in terms of various models.