Mesoporous MEL, BEA, and FAU zeolite crystals obtained by formation of carbon template over metal nanoparticles

• Published in: New journal of chemistry 2016-05, Vol.4 (5), p.4223-4227
• Main Authors: Abildstrøm, Jacob Oskar, Ali, Zahra Nasrudin, Mentzel, Uffe Vie, Mielby, Jerrik, Kegnæs, Søren, Kegnæs, Marina
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/c5nj02809d

Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of hierarchical zeolite materials with MEL, BEA and FAU structures. The synthesis is based on the carbon templating method with an in situ -generated carbon template. Through the decomposition of methane and deposition of coke over nickel nanoparticles supported on silica, a carbon-silica composite is obtained and exploited as a combined carbon template/silica source for the zeolite synthesis. The mesoporous zeolite materials were all prepared by hydrothermal crystallization in alkaline media followed by removal of the carbon template by combustion, which results in zeolite single crystals with intracrystalline pore volumes of up to 0.44 cm 3 g −1 . The prepared zeolite structures are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and N 2 physisorption measurements. Highly crystalline zeolites with intracrystalline mesopores are synthesized through a straightforward and feasible templating method.