Ordered mesoporous silcalite-1 zeolite assembled from colloidal nanocrystalline precursors

A series of ordered mesoporous silicalite-1 zeolites has been synthesized by the self-assembly of nanosized zeolite silicalite-1 seeds with different sizes using a two-step procedure. The nanosized silicalite-1 seeds were prepared with an alkali precursor solution that was heated for different periods, and then assembled into ordered mesoporous materials under strongly acidic conditions, similar to that of mesoporous silica SBA-15 which has well ordered hexagonal mesopores and amorphous walls. A significant change in synthesis conditions prevents the continued growth of zeolite seeds and induces assemblage into ordered mesoporous materials templated by triblock copolymers. The samples assembled by zeolite nanoclusters were investigated by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. This “bottom-up” approach yields porous materials that contain ordered micro- and mesopores. The mesoporous zeolite has a large surface area (> 730 m2/g).

Graphical AbstractOrdered mesoporous zeolite with large surface area and pore volume is synthesized by nanosized silicalite-1 seed self-assembly and using commercial P123 triblock copolymer in acidic media.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide