Synthesis and characterization of microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 obtained with different Ti sources

Titanosilicate ETS-10 crystals were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis varying Ti source (TiCl3 and commercial TiO2-anatase), time in autoclave and seeding with previously prepared ETS-10 crystals. The crystalline powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Control of the particle size of ETS-10 crystals ranging from 0.32 μm × 0.41 μm to 16.4 μm × 32.5 μm was successfully achieved varying the seeding and synthesis conditions. In particular, it was found that the use of TiO2-anatase alone or together with TiCl3 promotes heterogeneous primary nucleation. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the largest crystals obtained here were twinned.