High-pressure synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction studies of zeolites

Abstract

Zeolites are crystalline porous aluminosilicate framework solids. Although there are many reports of how the structures change as a function of temperature, similar studies as a function of high pressure are relatively scarce. With the increasing availability of synchrotron X-ray sources and greater knowledge in the chemistry community of high pressure techniques this is gradually changing. Still, only a handful of the many zeolite topologies have been studied. In this short review the behaviour of two zeolite systems, those with the LTA and FAU topology, under hydrostatic pressure conditions will be discussed. The results clearly demonstrate the rich behaviour that is observed when the solids are pressurized in the presence of a liquid with molecules that are small enough to enter the pores.