Atomic sites and stability of Cs+ captured within zeolitic nanocavities.
Zeolites have potential application as ion-exchangers, catalysts and molecular sieves. Zeolites are once again drawing attention in Japan as stable adsorbents and solidification materials of fission products, such as (137)Cs(+) from damaged nuclear-power plants. Although there is a long history of scientific studies on the crystal structures and ion-exchange properties of zeolites for practical application, there are still open questions, at the atomic-level, on the physical and chemical origins of selective ion-exchange abilities of different cations and detailed atomic structures of exchanged cations inside the nanoscale cavities of zeolites. Here, the precise locations of Cs(+) ions captured within A-type zeolite were analyzed using high-resolution electron microscopy. Together with theoretical calculations, the stable positions of absorbed Cs(+) ions in the nanocavities are identified, and the bonding environment within the zeolitic framework is revealed to be a key factor that influences the locations of absorbed cations.
Nanostructures Research Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center, 2-4-1 Mutsuno, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, 456-8587 Japan.
Kaname
K
Yoshida
Kazuaki
K
Toyoura
Katsuyuki
K
Matsunaga
Atsushi
A
Nakahira
Hiroki
H
Kurata
Yumi H
YH
Ikuhara
Yukichi
Y
Sasaki
D002586:Cesium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D058608:Nanopores / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
D017641:Zeolites; D002586:Cesium