In situ atomic force microscopy of zeolite A dissolution.
In the present study, the {100} surface of zeolite A was exposed to a range of solutions and the response was monitored in real-time by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). The zeolite dissolves by a well-defined layer process that is characterised by uncorrelated dissolution of units that are structurally unconnected and terrace retreat when building units are inter-connected. This process was observed to be coupled with the formation of nano-squares that are stabilized at the zeolite surface for a period before complete dissolution. Theoretical work suggests that three terminating structures are central to understanding the dissolution mechanism. Stripping the surface of the secondary building unit, the single 4-ring, is predicted to be a rate-determining step in dissolution, but this process occurs by removing monomeric rather than oligomeric units.
Itzel Meza
L
L
Centre for Nanoporous Materials, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Chemistry Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
Anderson
Michael W
MW
Slater
Ben
B
Agger
Jonathan R
JR