Influence of the dispersion medium on the properties of spin-coated Silicalite-1 films

Purified Silicalite-1 nanocrystals were dispersed in methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and 1-butanol and Silicalite-1 films were prepared by spin-coating. The properties of the spin coated films were dependent on the dispersion medium. The influence of the different alcohols was studied by preparing films from zeolite suspensions in corresponding alcohols with four different zeolite concentrations, from 1.5 wt.% to 15 wt.%. Similar trends were obtained for the influence of the alcohols independent of the zeolite concentration. Denser films of improved ordering were obtained using the Silicalite-1 nanocrystals dispersed in methanol and 2-propanol compared to ethanol, whereas the films prepared from 1-butanol suspensions were discontinuous. The quality of the films was judged from AFM and SEM images.