Novel Approaches to Expanding Zeolite Pores Sizes and Dimensions

Abstract:
Synthetic zeolites and molecular sives in general, have been extensively studied and developed in order to expand their proven usefulness and exceptional benefites in catalysis, adsorption and ion exchange processes. The discovery of new zeolite types has been very successful through the application of organic structure directing agents but has not produced a practical breakthrough is pore sizes beyond 1nm. The traditional approach is also rather inflexible as the as-made product is typically not amenable to meaninful post-synthesis structure modification. New directions of zeolite materials expansion have been recognized in 1990’s. They can be characterized as synthetic chemistry at the inorganic-surfactant interface and layered 2-dimensional zeolite materials. They not only complemented the conventional zeoltie field but provided new fundamental inisights and potential for practical applications, already realized in some cases. The talk will be based on author’s first hand knowledge and experience in this area and also highlight recent discoveries from other laboratories.