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Laser Control of Zeolite Nucleation
Author(s) -
Navarro Marta,
Mayoral Álvaro,
Mateo Ester,
Lahoz Ruth,
de la Fuente Germán F.,
Coronas Joaquín
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201100783
Subject(s) - zeolite , nucleation , irradiation , hydrothermal circulation , crystal (programming language) , materials science , laser , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , hydrothermal synthesis , diffraction , crystal structure , crystal growth , scanning electron microscope , crystallography , chemistry , nanotechnology , optics , organic chemistry , composite material , catalysis , physics , computer science , nuclear physics , engineering , programming language
Precursor solutions for the synthesis of zeolites are irradiated by means of a Nd‐YAG laser. These solutions are subsequently submitted to a hydrothermal treatment and the results analyzed by X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Laser irradiation promotes the formation of silica nanoparticles that nucleate into zeolite (silicalite‐1), following a hydrothermal treatment. The average crystal size (in the 0.6–3.6 μm range) of the zeolite exponentially decreases as a function of laser irradiation time. In addition, a longer irradiation time results in a narrower crystal size distribution.