title: Characterization of a molecular sieve coating using ellipsometric porosimetry.
abstract: Ellipsometric porosimetry was used to determine the adsorption isotherms of toluene, methanol, and water on b-oriented Silicalite-1 coatings with a thickness of less than ca. 250 nm and to obtain adsorption kinetics. The adsorption isotherms are of sufficient quality to reveal several aspects of the pore structure such as the adsorbate capacity and the adsorbate/framework affinity. The use of a combination of different molecular probes in ellipsometric porosimetry to elucidate the molecular accessibility of Silicalite-1 pores is demonstrated. It is shown that ellipsometric porosimetry is an appropriate technique for probing the influence of aging of the Silicalite-1 coating and of planarization polishing on the porosity, pore accessibility, and adsorbate/framework affinity.
authors.affiliation: IMEC, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eslava
authors.forename: Mikhail R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baklanov
authors.forename: Christine E A
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kirschhock
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iacopi
authors.forename: Steliana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aldea
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maex
authors.forename: Johan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martens