Řízení konkurenčního růstu zeolitových fází bez použití činidla usměrňujícího organickou strukturu. Syntéza *BEA bohatého na Al

The synthesis of zeolites without using an organic structure-directing agent (OSDA) offers great environmental and economic advantages; however, the zeolites being formed are not stabilized by the organic molecules and kinetic control of the synthesis ensuring high yield and purity of the phases is challenging for many zeolites. For OSDA-free synthesis of an Al-rich *BEA zeolite, this study shows that the zeolite is formed as a metastable phase that can undergo transformation immediately after completion of its crystallization to form a thermodynamically more stable MOR zeolite according to Ostwald's rule of stages. The OSDA-free zeolite synthesis is a dynamic process in which crystallization and dissolution occur simultaneously. As soon as a thermodynamically more stable MOR zeolite begins to form in the synthesis mixture, its formation causes depletion of the Al and Si from the synthesis mixture, and, because of the desaturation of the synthesis gel, the original *BEA zeolite begins to dissolve rapidly under hydrothermal conditions. The formation of targeted and parasitic zeolite structures is fundamentally affected by the Al and Si sources. Sources of Al and Si with suitable solubility and the presence of stable zeolite *BEA seeds allow kinetic control to direct the exclusive formation of *BEA zeolite up to a relatively high yields. Then, however, the MOR zeolite phase appears in the product and its formation becomes predominant. This study demonstrates the crucial importance of kinetic control for the selective formation of metastable zeolites in the OSDA-free synthesis.Syntéza zeolitů bez použití činidla usměrňujícího organickou strukturu přináší ekonomické úspory a je mnohem příznivější pro životní prostředí. Ovšem bez přítomnosti organických molekul, které by stabilizovali cíleno strukturu zeolitu je kinetika reakce i výsledná čistota produktu s dostatečným výtěžkem obtížná pro řadu zeolitů. V případě této studie, kde byl připraven *BEA zeolit je zjištěno, že zeolit vzniká jako metastabilní fáze a transformuje se ihned po ukončení své krystalizace a přechází na termodynamicky stabilnější MOR zeolit. Z experimentů vyplývá, že tvorba cíleného a nežádoucího zeolitu je výrazně ovlivněna zdrojem Al a Si. Dále je zřejmé, že pro selektivní vznik vybraného zeolitu bez použití činidla usměrňujícího organickou strukturu je velmi důležité řídit kinetiku celého procesu

Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry of Nanotubular Polypyrrole and Polypyrrole-Derived Carbon Nanotubes

Polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy-NTs) were prepared by the oxidation of pyrrole with iron(III) chloride in the presence of a structure-guiding agent, methyl orange. Upon carbonization of the salt form of PPy-NTs, the conducting nitrogen-containing nanotubular carbonaceous material (C-PPy-NT) was obtained. The morphology, structure, and physicochemical properties of PPy-NTs in salt and base form as well as C-PPy-NTs were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies, conductivity measurements, elemental microanalysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen physisorption. Results of the material characterization were linked to their electrochemical behavior. Specific capacitance of around 120 F g(-1) at low potential sweep rate of 5 mV s(-1) was observed for original PPy-NTs. However, when the potential sweep rate was increased to 100 mV s(-1), PPy-NT salt retained the value of specific capacitance, while the capacitance of PPy-NT base decreased by 70%. Upon carbonization of PPy-NT salt, the specific capacitance was doubled and capacitance fade measured in the interval 5-100 mV s(-1) was determined to be around 45%. It is proposed that the absolute value of specific capacitance is determined by specific surface area and surface functional groups, while the capacitance fade is determined by the conductivity of the electrode material. In this manner, a linear relationship between the percent of capacitance fade and the logarithm of the conductivity was revealed. C-PPy-NTs were also tested as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. High ORR activity was observed, characterized by the onset potential of -0.1 V versus saturated calomel electrode and the apparent number of electrons consumed per oxygen molecule higher than 3. Appreciable ORR activity can be linked with a high fraction of mesopores and the presence of surface functional groups, especially pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogens, and also with a high degree of structural disorder