A 36-ring zeolite with intrinsic cylindrical mesopores

Stable extra-large-pore zeolites are highly desirable for catalysis and molecular separation, but most remain microporous, limiting their effectiveness for bulky substrates. Among the few extra-large-pore zeolites that exhibit mesoporosity, the pores typically form as elongated, noncircular pore apertures. We report that NJU120-6, a stable silicate zeolite with an intrinsic cylindrical mesoporous system, has the currently largest 36-ring windows with a free diameter of 25.71 angstroms by 19.12 angstroms. NJU120-6 exhibits the lowest framework density of 9.39 silicon atoms per cubic nanometer and a pore volume of 0.66 cubic centimeters per gram. It remains stable up to 1173 kelvin and can incorporate aluminum and titanium, enabling superior performance in catalytic cracking and in liquid-phase alkene oxidation of bulky molecules, respectively.