More efficient, low energy manufacturing method for 2D Zeolites

Zeolites have found wide application in catalysis and separation processes due to their tunable pore structure and active sites, and they show remarkable stability in commercial use. Recently, ultra-thin two-dimensional (2D) zeolite nanosheets have been synthesized from zeolite precursors. These ultra-thin nanosheets show promise for high throughput separations and catalytic reactions involving bulky molecules. A commercially feasible synthesis method, however, has yet to be developed. State-of-the-art methods require high energy input and multiple processing steps, and give low yield and small nanosheet size.

Professors Winter and Fan have developed a simpler, lower energy method to synthesize ultra-thin 2D zeolite nanosheets from precursor zeolite materials, such as MCM-22 and ml-MFI. In the method, zeolite precusors can be subjected to either a short sonication or chaotic flow treatment in the presence of commercially available telechelic polymers, resulting in exfoliated zeolite nanosheets. While demonstrated in batch, this process can potentially be scaled and made continuous.

•      Lower energy, higher yield synthesis

•      Larger nanosheets

•      Single layer thickness: 3.4nm

•      Process can be made continuous

•      H₂/CO₂ separation

•      Xylene isomer separation

•      Catalysis: acid-catalyzed reactions, selective oxidations, bifunctional catalysis

Dr. Wei Fan is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering focusing on the rational synthesis of nanoporous materials for the catalysts of biorefinery and drug delivery carriers.