TiO2-TON zeolite synthesis using an ionic liquid as a structure-directing agent

• TiO2-TON zeolites were synthesized using an ionic liquid as organic structure-directing agent.
• 13C NMR shown the role of ionic liquid as organic structure-directing agent.
• The presence of Si–O–Ti bonds was confirmed.
• TiO2-synthesized zeolites can be applied in several areas, like photocatalysis and hydrogen peroxide decomposition.

The 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid was employed as a structure-directing agent for the preparation of TiO2-TON zeolites under different crystallization conditions. By varying the crystallization parameters (i.e., time, structure-directing agent, and TiO2 content), the ionic liquid was determined to be a powerful structure-directing agent for the TON zeolite, which was confirmed by 13C NMR. In both stirring and static modes, the TON zeolites crystallize. The analysis of the X-ray diffraction data indicated that the synthesized materials are highly crystalline. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicated that titanium elements were present in an octahedral (anatase) and tetrahedral (bridging the zeolitic structure) environment. Electron probe microanalysis indicated a good distribution of titanium in the crystals, possessing rice grain morphology that is characteristic of this zeolitic structure. The ionic liquid was modified during hydrothermal synthesis, and further investigation regarding its possible reuse as a structure-directing agent will be conducted.

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