Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Synthesis of Zeolites Using the ADOR (Assembly-Disassembly-Organization-Reassembly) Route
Published on: April 3, 2016
Homogeneous nucleation of water in mesoporous zeolite cavities
A H Janssen1, H Talsma, M J van Steenbergen
1Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80083, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In this paper, we show that water inside mesoporous cavities in zeolites can be supercooled to ca. -40 degrees C at which point homogeneous nucleation of the water takes place. The fundamental phenomena observed here are similar to those reported earlier in for example emulsion droplets or droplets in the vapor phase. However, as these zeolite materials are widely available, they may provide an easily accessible source for studies of supercooled liquids in confinements. Next to this, it is now possible to discriminate with thermoporometry between mesoporous cavities inside the zeolite crystals, in which homogeneous nucleation takes place, and mesopores that are connected to the external surface in which heterogeneous nucleation takes place.
Related Concept Videos
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Aquaporins
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent – the...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Water: Hydrate Formation
The formation of hydrates is a reversible reaction. Hydrate formation is influenced by steric and electronic factors accompanying the alkyl substituents on the carbonyl group: The rate of hydrate formation increases with a decrease in the number of alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon. Hence,...
Transition Zone
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration

