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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
08:26
Synthesis of Zeolites Using the ADOR (Assembly-Disassembly-Organization-Reassembly) Route
Published on: April 3, 2016
H-Bond interactions between silicates and water during zeolite pre-nucleation
Miguel J Mora-Fonz1, C Richard A Catlow, Dewi W Lewis
1Centre for Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Department of Chemistry University College London, 20 Gordon St., London, UKWC1H 0AJ.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|November 4, 2008
Summary
Silicate-silicate interactions are stronger than water interactions, explaining low monomer solubility and influencing zeolite formation. Understanding these bonds is key to controlling silicate species during synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solution Chemistry
- Crystallization Science
Background:
- Zeolite synthesis involves silicate species in aqueous solutions.
- Understanding silicate solubility and aggregation is crucial for controlling zeolite formation.
- Hydrothermal synthesis of zeolites requires knowledge of inter-species interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relative strengths of water-water, water-silicate, and silicate-silicate interactions.
- To explain the low solubility of silicic acid monomer (Si(OH)4).
- To determine silicate cluster dispersion during hydrothermal zeolite synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Computational modeling of hydrogen bond interactions.
- Analysis of silicate species in solution.
- Consideration of pH effects on interactions.
Main Results:
- Water-monomeric silicate hydrogen bonds are similar to pure water.
- Monomer-monomer silicate interactions are stronger than water-water.
- Silicate-silicate interactions dominate over water-water and water-silicate interactions for larger species.
Conclusions:
- Stronger silicate-silicate interactions limit monomer solubility and promote aggregation.
- The hierarchy of hydrogen bonding strength (water-water < silicate-water < silicate-silicate) influences zeolite pre-nucleation.
- pH plays a role in modulating these interactions and subsequent silicate species formation.
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