Capturing Different Intermediate Phases during Zeolite Synthesis

Despite extensive efforts over the past several decades, the current mechanistic understanding of zeolite crystallization is still far from satisfactory, thus precluding the synthesis of designer zeolites. Here we show that the nucleation and in situ transformation pathways during the synthesis of medium-pore zeolite TNU-9 can be altered by controlling the extent of cooperative structure direction between Na⁺ and Cs⁺ ions in the presence of 1,4-bis(N-methylpyrrolidinium)butane cations as an organic structure-directing agent. The intermediate phase selectivity was found to change from bikitaite to analcime to layered MCM-22 precursor when the gel Na/Cs ratio was adjusted to 7, 15, and 20, respectively. We also show that the transformation of bikitaite into TNU-9 begins at the surface of intermediate crystals, unlike that of analcime and MCM-22 precursor by a dissolution-recrystallization process. The force field simulation results suggest that the nucleation of different intermediate phases is not thermodynamically but kinetically controlled. This study provides a new basis for advancing the fundamental understanding of zeolite crystallization pathways.