An intrinsic synthesis parameter governing the crystallization of silico(zinco)aluminophosphate molecular sieves

One of the most fundamental but yet unanswered questions in the synthesis of zeolites and zeolite-like materials is whether or not any parameter controlling the microporosity of the crystallized product from synthesis mixtures with feasible chemical compositions exists. Here we report that an experimentally optimized parameter (ca. 3.3 <= MOH/P2O5 <= 5.3, where M is alkali metal ions) is the criterion bringing about the successful formation of various high-charge-density silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) and zincoaluminophosphate (ZnAPO) molecular sieves, without the aid of organic structure-directing agents. The materials obtained using this empirical concept include SAPO molecular sieves with CHA and LTA topologies, as well as a SAPO FAU/EMT intergrowth, and ZnAPO ones with CZP and SOD topologies. This study demonstrates the existence of an essential factor determining not only phase selectivity but also microporosity (0.3-2 nm) in the synthesis of zeotypes with charged frameworks which may offer interesting opportunities for more efficiently producing novel zeolite structures and/or compositions.

Automated summary

This study reveals that the ratio of alkali metal ions in synthesis mixtures is a critical parameter for successfully producing high-charge-density zeolite-like molecular sieves with various topologies, offering new opportunities for more efficient synthesis of novel zeolite structures.