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Laser Control of Zeolite Nucleation |
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| Authors: | Marta Navarro Dr Álvaro Mayoral Dr Ester Mateo Dr Ruth Lahoz Prof Dr Germán F de la Fuente Prof Dr Joaquín Coronas |
| Institution: | 1. Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department and Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón (INA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza (Spain);2. Department of Earth Sciences, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza (Spain);3. Laboratorio de Microscopía Avanzada, Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón (INA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza (Spain);4. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón, CSIC‐Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza (Spain) |
| Abstract: | 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. |
| Keywords: | crystal growth electron microscopy laser chemistry nanoparticles zeolites |