Zeosil nanoslabs: building blocks in nPr(4)N(+)-mediated synthesis of MFI zeolite

Abstract

Tetrapropylammonium (TPA)-containing precursors are the building blocks in the crystallization of silica. In the first steps slab-shaped silicalite nanoparticles are formed by ordered combination of the precursors (see picture). These nanoslabs have MFI-type zeolite framework topology and play a key role in TPA-ion-mediated zeolite crystallization from monomeric and polymeric silica sources