Extremely Stable Zeolites Developed via Designed Liquid-Mediated Treatment

Improving the stability of porous materials for practical applications is highly challenging. Aluminosilicate zeolites are utilized for adsorptive and catalytic applications, wherein they are sometimes exposed to high-temperature steaming conditions (∼1000 °C). As the degradation of high-silica zeolites originates from the defect sites in their frameworks, feasible defect-healing methods are highly demanded. Herein, we propose a method for healing defects to create extremely stable high-silica zeolites. High-silica (SiO₂/Al₂O₃ > 240) zeolites with *BEA-, MFI-, and MOR-type topologies could be stabilized by significantly reducing the number of defect sites via a liquid-mediated treatment without using additional silylating agents. Upon exposure to extremely high temperature (900-1150 °C) steam, the stabilized zeolites retain their crystallinity and micropore volume, whereas the parent commercial zeolites degrade completely. The proposed self-defect-healing method provides new insights into the migration of species through porous bodies and significantly advances the practical applicability of zeolites in severe environments.