Continuously Adjustable, Molecular-Sieving "Gate" on 5A Zeolite for Distinguishing Small Organic Molecules by Size

Zhuonan Song, Harvey Huang, Weiwei L. Xu, Lei Wang, Yu Bao, Shiguang Li*, Miao Yu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Zeolites/molecular sieves with uniform, molecular-sized pores are important for many adsorption-based separation processes. Pore size gaps, however, exist in the current zeolite family. This leads to a great challenge of separating molecules with size differences at similar to 0.01 nm level. Here, we report a novel concept, pore misalignment, to form a continuously adjustable, molecular-sieving "gate" at the 5A zeolite pore entrance without sacrificing the internal capacity. Misalignment of the micropores of the alumina coating with the 5A zeolite pores was related with and facilely adjusted by the coating thickness. For the first time, organic molecules with sub-0.01 nm size differences were effectively distinguished via appropriate misalignment. This novel concept may have great potential to fill the pore size gaps of the zeolite family and realize size-selective adsorption separation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number13981
Number of pages7
JournalScientific Reports
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2015

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • CHEMICAL-VAPOR-DEPOSITION
  • PORE-OPENING SIZE
  • CATALYTIC CONVERSION
  • LAYER DEPOSITION
  • FINE CONTROL
  • SEPARATION
  • DIFFUSION
  • ULTRATHIN
  • ETHANOL
  • SELECTIVITY

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