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The Mosaic Structure of Zeolite Crystals
Author(s) -
Qin Zhengxing,
Melinte Georgian,
Gilson JeanPierre,
Jaber Maguy,
Bozhilov Krassimir,
Boullay Philippe,
Mintova Svetlana,
Ersen Ovidiu,
Valtchev Valentin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201608417
Subject(s) - zeolite , materials science , nanoscopic scale , adsorption , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , electron tomography , nanometre , catalysis , extraction (chemistry) , chemistry , organic chemistry , transmission electron microscopy , scanning transmission electron microscopy , composite material , engineering
Zeolites are widely used in many commercial processes, mostly as catalysts or adsorbents. Understanding their intimate structure at the nanoscale is the key to control their properties and design the best materials for their ever increasing uses. Herein, we report a new and controllable fluoride treatment for the non‐discriminate extraction of zeolite framework cations. This sheds new light on the sub‐structure of commercially relevant zeolite crystals: they are segmented along defect zones exposing numerous nanometer‐sized crystalline domains, separated by low‐angle boundaries, in what were apparent single‐crystals. The concentration, morphology, and distribution of such domains analyzed by electron tomography indicate that this is a common phenomenon in zeolites, independent of their structure and chemical composition. This is a milestone to better understand their growth mechanism and rationally design superior catalysts and adsorbents.