Synthesis of nano-zeolite IM-5 by hydrothermal method with the aid of PEG and CTAB

Nano IM-5 zeolite was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method using 1,5-bis(N-methylpyrrolidinium)pentane bromide as structure-directing-agent and polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactants. It was investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, N2 sorption isotherms and solid-state NMR. The results indicate that the PEG and CTAB play an important role during the formation of nano crystal IM-5 zeolite. The aggregates of nano particles with mean size about 35 nm have large surface area than that of micron-sized sample. The solid-state 29Si NMR spectrum shows that more silanol group defects were observed in the nano crystals.

► Nano-scale IM-5 zeolite with mean size about 35 nm was prepared by a facile method.
► The formation mechanism of nano IM-5 zeolite in PEG and/or CTAB was discussed.
► The physicochemical properties of nano-sized IM-5 zeolite were investigated in detail.