Tailoring the Structure of Hierarchically Porous Zeolite Beta through Modified Orientated Attachment Growth in a Dry Gel System

In Situ Kinetic Observations on Crystal Nucleation and Growth

Nucleation and growth are critical steps in crystallization, which plays an important role in determining crystal structure, size, morphology, and purity. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of nucleation and growth is crucial to realize the controllable fabrication of crystalline products with desired and reproducible properties. Based on classical models, the initial crystal nucleus is formed by the spontaneous aggregation of ions, atoms, or molecules, and crystal growth is dependent on the monomer's diffusion and the surface reaction. Recently, numerous in situ investigations on crystallization dynamics have uncovered the existence of nonclassical mechanisms. This review provides a summary and highlights the in situ studies of crystal nucleation and growth, with a particular emphasis on the state-of-the-art research progress since the year 2016, and includes technological advances, atomic-scale observations, substrate- and temperature-dependent nucleation and growth, and the progress achieved in the various materials: metals, alloys, metallic compounds, colloids, and proteins. Finally, the forthcoming opportunities and challenges in this fascinating field are discussed.

The Steric Effect in Green Benzylation of Arenes with Benzyl Alcohol Catalyzed by Hierarchical H-beta Zeolite

For decades the steric effect was still ambiguously understood in catalytic benzylation reactions of arenes with benzyl alcohol, which limited the green synthesis of phenylmethane derivates in industrial scale. This research applies a series of silica–alumina beta zeolites to systematically evaluate factors like catalyst porosity, reactants molecule size, and reaction temperature on catalytic benzylation. First, a suitable hierarchical beta zeolite catalyst was screened out by X-ray powder diffraction, N2 adsorption−desorption, and probe benzylation with p-xylene. In the following substrates expanding study, for a typical benzylation of benzene, it showed extraordinary performance among literature reported ones that the conversion was 98% while selectivity was 90% at 353 K only after 10 min. The steric effect of aromatics with different molecular sizes on benzylation was observed. The reaction activities of four different aromatics followed the order: benzene > toluene > p-xylene > mesitylene. Combined with macroscopic kinetic analysis, this comprehensive study points out for the first time that the nature of this steric effect was dominated by the relative adsorption efficiency of different guest aromatic molecules on the host zeolite surface.

Manipulating the mesostructure of silicoaluminophosphate SAPO-11 via tumbling-assisted, oriented assembly crystallization: a pathway to enhance selectivity in hydroisomerization

A house-of-cards architecture of silicoaluminophosphate was fabricated to enhance selectivity for hydroisomerization.

Fabricating self-assembled SAPO-5 with tailored mesoporosity and acidity using a single template

SAPO-5 zeolite with a bimodal pore system was hydrothermally synthesized using di-n-butylamine as single template. The structural and catalytic properties of the hierarchical SAPO-5 were extensively characterized and compared to those of conventional SAPO-5 using triethylamine as template.

Synthesis of a multi-branched dandelion-like SAPO-11 by an in situ inoculating seed-induced-steam-assisted conversion method (SISAC) as a highly effective hydroisomerization support

A dandelion-like SAPO-11 with multiple branches was fabricated by seed-induced-steam-assisted conversion, which combined an in situ inoculating seed method (the initial gel pre-crystallized at 433 K for 24 h) and steam-assisted conversion process.

A solvent evaporation route towards fabrication of hierarchically porous ZSM-11 with highly accessible mesopores

A solvent evaporation route to generate an organosilane modified dry gel and its transformation into hierarchically porous ZSM-11 is reported. The material features good pore-connectivity and improved acid site accessibility towards bulky substrates.