The Influence of Deuterium On Sodium Mobility and Viscosity of Colloidal Precursor Suspensions Yielding Template-Free Nanosized Zeolites
The Influence of Deuterium On Sodium Mobility and Viscosity of Colloidal Precursor Suspensions Yielding Template-Free Nanosized Zeolites
The Influence of Deuterium On Sodium Mobility and Viscosity of Colloidal Precursor Suspensions Yielding Template-Free Nanosized Zeolites
G R A P H I C A L A B S T R A C T
A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
Keywords: The isotopic substitution in chemistry is characterized by two main effects, i.e., the kinetic isotope effect (KIE),
FAU associated with differences in the reaction rates, and the geometric isotope effect (GIE) related to crystallo
Nanosized zeolites graphic features. In this work, considering the difference in the weight of deuterium (D) compared to the weight
Heavy water
of hydrogen (H), we use the isotopic substitution to investigate the crystallisation mechanism of template-free
Isotope effect
nanosized faujasite (FAU) type zeolite in colloidal precursors. Тhe basic hydrothermal synthesis solvent -
Deuterium
Organic template-free water (H2O), is substituted with heavy water (D2O), aiming to understand the isotopic influence and the effect of
Crystallisation H-bond networks on the zeolite crystallisation. The crystallinity, viscosity, conductivity, chemical composition,
morphology and local order of the FAU zeolites synthesized in both hydrated (H) and deuterated (D) medium are
evaluated with X-ray diffraction, TEM microscopy, EDX and ICP analysis, FT-IR and solid-state NMR spectros
copy. The structural directing agent - Na+, exhibits a lower mobility in the deuterated medium, because of a
characteristic higher viscosity compared to hydrated medium. This leads to a slower nucleation and crystal
lisation in the initial stages of hydrothermal treatment in the colloidal suspensions but also to a significant
difference in the Al distribution.
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Mintova).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2023.132422
Received 28 July 2023; Received in revised form 13 September 2023; Accepted 14 September 2023
Available online 19 September 2023
0927-7757/© 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
M. Markovski et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 677 (2023) 132422
1. Introduction LUDOX AS-30 was replaced by a solution of fumed silica with H2O or
D2O, in mass ratio 3:7 respectively to avoid the hydrogen coming from
The hydrothermal synthesis of zeolites implies the heating of aqueous the LUDOX solution in the D2O synthesis. However, NaOH was used in
suspension or gel containing the precursors to form the final crystals both media despite the presence of hydrogen. The synthesis procedure is
[1–4]. Despite many investigations, the zeolites crystallization mecha divided in three main steps (aging, freeze-drying and hydrothermal (HT)
nism is still blurred because of the interplay of several physical and treatment) and 2 solutions, denoted A and B were prepared for all
chemical factors [5,6]. The main attention is often paid to the exploration samples. Solution A consists of 2.5 g of NaOH dissolved in 3 g of
of synthesis parameters including the nature of the precursors [5,6], the deionized H2O or D2O with 0.297 g of Al powder under vigorous stirring.
gel composition [7,8], the order of mixture [5], the temperature [9,10] Solution B consists of a mixture of 1.1 g NaOH in 8.0 g deionized H2O or
and the aging time [11,12]. Solvothermal syntheses in the presence of D2O, in addition to 3 g of fumed silica. After 12 h under vigorous stirring
ionic liquids have also been extensively investigated in order to under on orbital shaker, the turbid suspension is heated for 20 min at 90 ºC to
stand the role of the solvent during the crystallization [5–7]. However, obtain a clear solution. Solution A was added to solution B under
compared to the mentioned approaches, the influence of the isotopic vigorous stirring at about 0 ºC (ice bath) that allows the formation of
substitution on zeolite crystallization was less developed [13,14]. Several highly homogeneous colloidal suspensions due to the slow rate of
studies have shown the high impact of hydrogen - deuterium isotopic polymerization. The final colloidal suspensions were left for aging for
exchange on the crystallization of organic molecules [15–21], demon 24 h at room temperature under vigorous stirring. After aging, the sus
strating the importance of the hydrogen bonds networks during the pensions were freeze-dried for 6 h at − 50 ◦ C under vacuum (120 mBar).
crystallization process. Furthermore, the clustering and interactions of 6 g and 5.6 g ( ± 0.1 g) of water lost for the hydrated and deuterated
liquid water molecules is known to be highly complex and was subjected samples, respectively was measured. The difference of ~0.5 g (10%) of
to profound studies in the last decades [22–25]. The diversity of water loss approximately corresponds to difference in molar ratio (10%)
H-bonding networks leads to the formation of 19 polymorphs of ice between H2O and D2O, as the syntheses were prepared by ratio in weight
identified in the water phase diagram [26] revealing their impact on (11 g of H2O/D2O per bottle). Hydrothermal treatment of the suspen
water properties [27]. Deuterium is two times heavier than hydrogen and sions in H and D medium was performed in 60 ml pp bottles in a static
deuterated compounds exhibit significant changes in density and viscos oven at 50 ºC for 2 h, 12 h, 16 h, 19 h and 23 h; the samples obtained
ity [28], boiling and freezing temperature [29], heat of fusion and were named FAU-H/D-x h, respectively (H and D corresponds to syn
vaporization [30], osmotic coefficient [31], hydrogen and deuterium theses from H2O or D2O suspensions, respectively; x represents the hy
potentials (pH, pD) and reduction potential (E◦ ) [32]. Kinetic isotope drothermal crystallisation time in hours). The products were purified
effects (KIE) and geometrical isotope effects (GIE) were highlighted in the using deionized H2O, until a neutral pH of 7. The final products were
presence of deuterium impacting the surface morphology and crystal dried in an oven overnight at 90 ºC.
growth of ice [33], the bond elongations [16], the SiO4 tetrahedron dis
tortions [15], the symmetry changes of bi-deuterated ethylene [18], the
crystallisation kinetics of selectively deuterated poly(ε-caprolactone) [19] 2.2. Characterization
and the phase-transition-related physical properties of H-bonded network
[17]. Concerning confined spaces i.e. the pores of zeolites, different water Phase determination of the samples was performed by powder X-ray
cluster topologies were identified [34–37] leading to the use of an ‘ice- diffraction (XRD) using a PANanalytical X′Pert Pro diffractometer with
templating approach’ for mordenite (MOR) zeolite recently [38]. Cu Kα1 monochromatic radiation (λ = 1.540598 Å), within 2θ range
Therefore, the use of D2O in lieu of H2O in the hydrothermal syn 5–60◦ with a step of 0.0131◦ .
thesis of zeolites, seems to be a promising way that may give new in The chemical composition and Si/Al ratios as a function of crystal
sights on their crystallisation mechanism involving aqueous complexes, lisation time were identified using a combination of ICP-MS (7900 ICP-
colloidal suspensions, liquid-solid and amorphous-crystalline interfaces MS from Agilent Technologies), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) (Bruker
that determine the rate of nucleation and growth and consequently the XFLASH 6/30).
properties of zeolites. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were recorded on Nexus
The isotope effect in the synthesis of zeolites was firstly presented in IR spectrometer, 265 scans were acquired in the 1200–400 cm− 1 range
1989 [13], a decelerating role was noticed in the crystallisation of with a resolution of 1 cm− 1. Standard KBr pellets, prepared by mixing of
zeolite A. Another study has shown how the crystallization of pure silica 100 mg dried KBr (ACS reagent, ≥ 99.0%, Sigma Aldrich) with 1 mg of
MFI zeolites synthesized in hydrated and deuterated medium, exhibited sample were used for all measurements.
different crystallization rates, depending on the SDA used [14]. In this Solid-state Magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS
work, template-free nanosized FAU zeolites are examined because of NMR) spectra of 27Al and 29Si nuclei were recorded with single pulse
their relatively small crystal size (hundreds of unit cells), allowing the experiments at 99.3 and 130.3 MHz, respectively on a Bruker Avance III
understanding of the isotopic effects on the first stages of nucleation and HD 500 MHz spectrometer using 4 mm-OD zirconia rotors with a spin
growth without the use of OSDAs in colloidal precursor suspensions (e.g. ning frequency of 12 kHz. Measurements were performed using radio
FAU zeolites) [39,40]. Furthermore, water plays a crucial role in the frequency powers of 36 and 50 kHz, for 29Si and 27Al, respectively. For
29
synthesis of FAU zeolites, their secondary building units (SBUs) being Si NMR spectra, 2560 scans were acquired with a recycle delay of 20 s.
formed during the aging stage of a viscous suspension [40–42]. For 27Al NMR spectra, 2048 scans were acquired with a recycle delay of
1.0 s
2. Experimental part The morphology and size distribution were investigated by bright
field transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using a probe and image
2.1. Synthesis aberration corrected JEM-ARM200F cold FEG microscope, operated at
200 kV and equipped with large angle CENTURIO EDX detector, Orius
The following chemicals were used for preparation of nanosized CCD camera and Quantum GIF (Gatan).
zeolites from colloidal precursor suspensions: fumed silica (~99%, Dynamic viscosity measurements of the colloidal suspensions were
Sigma Aldrich), aluminium powder (325 mesh, 99.5%, Alfa Aesar), so performed using a rotational rheometer Kinexus pro with a PU20
dium hydroxide (NaOH, Prolabo, 98.7%), D2O (99.9 atom D%, Sigma SC0085 SS geometry.
Aldrich) and deionized H2O (Milli-Q® water (18.2 MΩ⋅cm)). Conductivity measurements were performed by HACH SensIONTM+
The synthesis procedure for organic template-free nanosized zeolite MM150 Portable Multi-Parameter meter, Field Kit with Multi Sensor for
X reported in [39] was slightly modified in both, H2O and D2O media. pH, ORP, Conductivity and TDS.
2
M. Markovski et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 677 (2023) 132422
Fig. 1. Variation of the viscosity of FAU-H (open circle) and FAU-D (black circle) colloidal precursor suspensions (a): before HT treatment (P-1: before aging
procedure; P-2: after aging procedure; P-3: after freeze-drying water loss procedure) and (b): after HT treatment at 50 ºC.
3
M. Markovski et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 677 (2023) 132422
Table 1
29
Relative crystallinity and Si/Al ratio of nanosized FAU-H and FAU-D samples based on Si NMR, ICP-MS and EDX methods.
Crystallisation Crystallinity degree (%) Si/Al Si/Al Si/Al
time (h) (29Si NMR) (ICP-MS) (EDX)
Fig. 4. TEM images highlighting the morphology of fully crystalline nanosized FAU-D-23 (a-b) and FAU-H-23 (c-d) zeolites.
4
M. Markovski et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 677 (2023) 132422
from both systems have a similar size between 5 and 20 nm, pronounced
lattice fringes and (111) twining. In order to understand the isotope
effects at the local order, further analyses of the samples were carried
out using FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy.
The FT-IR spectra (Fig. 5) in the mid-infrared region
(1200–400 cm− 1) show the structural bands assigned to bond vibrations
within the primary building units of FAU. Peaks corresponding to T-O
bending mode of the TO4 tetrahedra (467–441 cm− 1), symmetrical
stretching T-O-T mode (753–673 cm− 1) and asymmetrical stretching T-
O-T (1025–985 cm− 1) were observed (Table S2). The 6-membered
double ring (d6r) vibration bands appear at 12 h of crystallisation in
both series and vary in the range 569–564 cm− 1. Asymmetrical Si-O-T
(T = Al or Si) stretching bands shift in lower wavenumbers within the
crystallization time, indicating the decrease in Si/Al ratio, hence the Al
incorporation into the crystal structure [46]. The highest shift of these
Fig. 6. FT-IR asymmetrical T-O-T stretching band shifts as a function of crys
bands has been observed in the initial crystallization stages changing by tallisation time at 50 ºC of FAU-H (open circle) and FAU-D (black circle) series.
24 cm− 1 approximatively between 2 and 12 h in both media (Fig. 6).
After 16 h all bands appear at the same frequency (~985 cm− 1).
The presence of aluminium in tetrahedral coordination is confirmed The 29Si MAS NMR spectra of the samples with different degree of
by 27Al MAS NMR spectra (Fig. 7). After 12 h of HT treatment, all crystallinity are presented in Fig. 8. Five resonance were identified in all
samples exhibit a wide distribution around ~62 ppm corresponding to of the samples between 12 h and 23 h corresponding to Q4(4Al),
tetrahedrally coordinated Al atoms. This is in line with the appearance Q4(3Al), Q4(2Al), Q4(1Al) and Q4(0Al). According to the Si/Al ratio,
of Si-O-T (T = Al or Si) stretching and vibrational bands in the FT-IR estimated using 29Si MAS NMR spectra in accordance to Engelhardt and
spectra. The relatively broad asymmetric resonance for FAU-H-12 and Michel equation [47], the FAU-H and FAU-D analogues have similar
FAU-D-12 is due to the heterogeneous Al distribution in the semi- Si/Al ratio that decrease from 1.6 (FAU-H-2 and FAU-D-2) to 1.3
crystalline FAU zeolites. (FAU-H-12 and FAU-D-12) and to around 1.2 after 16 h of crystallization
(Table 1).
Fig. 7. 27Al MAS NMR spectra of nanosized FAU-H (A): (a) FAU-H-12, (b) FAU-
Fig. 5. FT-IR spectra of the nanosized FAU-H (A): (a) FAU-H-2, (b) FAU-H-12,
H-16, (c) FAU-H-19, (d) FAU-H-23 and FAU-D (B): (a) FAU-D-12, (b) FAU-D-16,
(c) FAU-H-16, (d) FAU-H-19, (e) FAU-H-23 and FAU-D (B): (a) FAU-D-2, (b)
(c) FAU-D-19, (d) FAU-D-23 as a function of crystallisation time at 50 ºC.
FAU-D-12, (c) FAU-D-16, (d) FAU-D-19 (e) FAU-D-23 as a function of crystal
lisation time at 50 ºC.
5
M. Markovski et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 677 (2023) 132422
4. Conclusions
Data availability
Acknowledgements
Fig. 9. Q4(4Al)/Q4(3Al) ratio derivate from 29Si MAS NMR spectra of nano
sized FAU-H (open circle) and FAU-D (black circle) series as a function of
crystallisation time at 50 ºC. Co-funded by the European Union (ERC, ZEOLIghT, 101054004).
Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only
and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Eu
The Si/Al ratio was additionally determined by ICP-MS and EDX
ropean Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting
(Table 1, Fig. S2). Based on ICP-MS and EDX, the Si/Al ratio of FAU-H-2
authority can be held responsible for them. The authors acknowledge
and FAU-D-2 is the highest (1.6–1.7 based on EDX) and decrease to 1.3
the support of the Centre for Zeolites and Nanoporous Materials, Label of
for all of the samples after 16 h of crystallization. This decrease in the Si/
Excellence, Normandy Region (CLEAR): 239216.
Al ratios is in line with the tendency observed in the FT-IR spectra
(Fig. 4).
Appendix A. Supporting information
The resolution of the 29Si NMR spectra increases with the crystal
linity of the samples (Fig. 8). Being the most intense, the peaks corre
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found in the
sponding to Q4(4Al) at 85 ppm and Q4(3Al) at 89 ppm deserve more
online version at doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2023.132422.
6
M. Markovski et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 677 (2023) 132422
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