A Light for the Cure

Abstract

Zeolites are mesoporous minerals used as ion-exchange beds in water purification and softening, and as chemical reaction platforms. Pure silica zeolites have been grown as polycrystalline films on nonporous supports, but the potential utility of these materials depends on their hydrophobicity and porosity, which in turn depends on the presence of grain boundaries. Post-deposition treatments have been used to remove the hydrophilic silanols that form, but typically these approaches either fail to penetrate the pore structure or fail to stand up to the heating required to remove the organic template used during zeolite growth.