Project Summary:
Zeolites are porous aluminosilicates finding their applications in the fields of catalysis, sorption and ion-exchange due to their exceptional properties i.e. high adsorption capacity, defined microporosity (resulting in molecular sieving effect), adjustable chemical composition, and possibility for post-synthesis modifications. Conventional synthesis of zeolites uses solvothermal method, limited in terms of controllability and design, however, ADOR (Assembly, Disassembly, Organization, Reassembly) synthesis approach [1-4] gives the possibility to design the final products and prepare different type of porous materials by post-synthesis manipulations (using 2D zeolite precursors) [4]. Design of novel zeolitic materials and their advanced characterization by electron microscopy [5] and electron diffraction methods are general aims of proposed PhD thesis. The synthesized materials will be investigated for their potential use e.g. in catalysis. The PhD work will include: 1) the application of established synthetic techniques (e.g. solvothermal synthesis, ADOR approach, swelling, pillaring, and functionalization, 2) development of novel synthesis strategies, and 3) characterization of synthesized material by electron microscopy and diffraction methods (including novel techniques like in-situ heating TEM or Continuous Rotation Electron Diffraction (cRED). The PhD work will result in preparation of new zeolitic materials and their thorough description by use of electron microscopy methods. These powerful techniques together with the precise tuneability of the synthesis should allow to solve and refine the structure of the newly prepared zeolites much faster than the standard approaches, like e.g. PXRD refinement.
*from ref. 4.
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