Direct synthesis of high-aspect ratio zeolite nanosheets
An example material includes a planar layer of MFI zeolite. The planar layer has a thickness in a range between 4 nm and 10 nm for at least 70% of a basal area of the planar layer. In one embodiment, the planar layer includes an embedded particle of an MFI zeolite.
1. A material comprising:
a planar layer of MFI zeolite; and
a MFI zeolite particle embedded in the planar layer of MFI zeolite,
wherein the planar layer has a thickness in a range between 4 nm and 10 nm for at least 70% of a basal area of the planar layer.
2. The material of claim 1 , wherein the planar layer of zeolite has a thickness of approximately 2.5 unit-cells along the b-axis of MFI structure for at least 70% of its basal area, and
wherein the planar layer has a length of at least 0.5 μm along at least two basal orthogonal directions.
3. The material of claim 1 , wherein the planar layer of zeolite has a thickness of approximately 3.5 unit-cells along the b-axis of MFI structure for at least 70% of its basal area, and
wherein the planar layer has a length of at least 0.5 μm along at least two basal orthogonal directions.
4. The material of claim 1 , wherein the planar layer of zeolite has a thickness of approximately 2.5 unit-cells along the b-axis of MFI structure for at least 70% of its basal area, and
wherein the planar layer has a length of 1 μm along at least a basal direction.
5. The material of claim 1 , wherein the planar layer of zeolite has a thickness of approximately 3.5 unit-cells along the b-axis of MFI structure for at least 70% of its basal area, and
wherein the planar layer has a length of 1 μm along at least a basal direction.
6. The material of claim 1 , wherein the planar layer of MFI zeolite has a first orientation,
wherein the MFI zeolite particle has a second orientation, and
wherein a rotational orientation of the first planar layer of MFI zeolite is different than a rotational orientation of the MFI zeolite particle.
7. The material of claim 6 , wherein the rotational orientation of the planar layer of MFI zeolite differs from the rotational orientation of the MFI zeolite particle by approximately 90° about a rotational axis.
8. The material of claim 7 , wherein the rotational axis extends parallel to a basal surface of the planar layer.
9. The material of claim 8 , the material having a single planar layer of MFI zeolite and a single MFI zeolite particle embedded in the planar layer of MRI zeolite.
10. The material of claim 1 , wherein the MFI zeolite particle has maximum dimension less than 200 nm.
11. The material of claim 1 , wherein the planar layer has a length of at least 0.5 μm along at least two orthogonal basal directions.
12. The material of claim 1 , the planar layer defining a network of pores, wherein the network of pores comprises pores having widths between approximately 5 Å and 6 Å.
13. The material of claim 1 , further comprising a porous support structure, wherein the planar layer is disposed on a surface of the support structure.
14. The material of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the MFI zeolite planar layer is measured by at least one of atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, or x-ray diffraction.