Abstract
Zeolites/molecular sieves with uniform, molecular-sized pores are important for many adsorption-based separation processes. Pore size gaps, however, exist in the current zeolite family. This leads to a great challenge of separating molecules with size differences at ~0.01 nm level. Here, we report a novel concept, pore misalignment, to form a continuously adjustable, molecular-sieving “gate†at the 5A zeolite pore entrance without sacrificing the internal capacity. Misalignment of the micropores of the alumina coating with the 5A zeolite pores was related with and facilely adjusted by the coating thickness. For the first time, organic molecules with sub-0.01 nm size differences were effectively distinguished via appropriate misalignment. This novel concept may have great potential to fill the pore size gaps of the zeolite family and realize size-selective adsorption separation.
Publication Date
2016
Document Type
Article
Department, Program, or Center
Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety (CAST)
Recommended Citation
Bao, Yu; Song, Zhuonan; Huang, Yi; and Xu, Weiwei L., "Continuously Adjustable, Molecular-Sieving "Gate" on 5A Zeolite for Distinguishing Small Organic Molecules by Size" (2016). Scientific Reports, 5 (Article No. 13981),Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/article/1799
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Comments
Published by the Nature Publishing Group