Long-Range Spatial Distribution of Single Aluminum Sites in Zeolites

How aluminum distributes during synthesis and rearranges after processing within the zeolite framework is a central question in heterogeneous catalysis, as it determines the structure and location of the catalytically active sites of the one of the most important classes of industrial catalysts. Here, exploiting the dipolar interaction between paramagnetic metal ions, we derive the spatial distribution of single aluminum sites within the ZSM-5 zeolite framework in the nanometer range, in polycrystalline samples lacking long-range order. We use a Monte Carlo approach to validate the findings on a pristine ZSM-5 sample and demonstrate that the method is sensitive enough to monitor aluminum redistribution induced in the framework by chemical stress.