Peter I. Ravikovitch

Characterization of nanoporous materials from adsorption and desorption isotherms

Abstract We present a consistent method for calculation of pore size distributions in nanoporous materials from adsorption and desorption isotherms, which form the hysteresis loop H1 by the IUPAC classification. The method is based on the nonlocal density functional theory (NLDFT) of capillary condensation hysteresis in cylindrical pores. It is implemented for the nitrogen and argon sorption at their boiling temperatures. Using examples of MCM-41 type and SBA-15 siliceous materials, it is shown that the method gives the consonant pore size distributions calculated independently from the adsorption and desorption branches of the sorption isotherm. The pore size distributions, pore volumes and specific surface areas calculated from nitrogen and argon data are consistent. In the case of SBA-15 materials, the method evaluates also the amount of microporosity. The results of the NLDFT method are in agreement with independent estimates of pore sizes in regular nanoporous materials.

Capillary condensation in MMS and pore structure characterization

Abstract Phenomena of capillary condensation and desorption in siliceous mesoporous molecular sieves (MMS) with cylindrical channels are studied by means of the non-local density functional theory (NLDFT). The results are compared with macroscopic thermodynamic approaches based on Kelvin–Cohan (KC) and Derjaguin–Broekhoff–de Boer (DBdB) equations. We show that: The KC equations, which constitute the basis of the traditional BJH method for the pore size distribution analysis, are in error even in pores as large as 20 nm. The DBdB equations with consistently determined thickness of the adsorbed layer (disjoining pressure isotherm) can be justified for pores wider than ≈7 nm in diameter. As the pore size decreases, the macroscopic arguments become less accurate, and the NLDFT and DBdB results differ significantly in pores smaller than ≈4 nm. The adsorption–desorption isotherms predicted by NLDFT are found to be in quantitative agreement with the experimental nitrogen (77 K) and argon (87 K) isotherms on MCM-41 type materials with pores larger than 5 nm. Therewith, the experimental desorption branch corresponds to the equilibrium capillary condensation/evaporation transition. The experimental adsorption branch corresponds to the spontaneous spinodal condensation, which occurs at the limit of stability of adsorption films. The NLDFT method has been developed for the calculation of pore size distributions from both the adsorption and desorption isotherms.

Density functional theory model for calculating pore size distributions: pore structure of nanoporous catalysts

Using the example of nanoporous catalysts, we discuss the non-local density functional . theory NLDFT model applied to physical adsorption of nitrogen and argon. The model has been used for predicting adsorptionrdesorption isotherms in nanopores of different geome- . tries over a wide range of pore sizes 0.5)100 nm , and for calculating pore size distributions from adsorption isotherms based on given intermolecular fluid)fluid and fluid)solid poten- tials. The development of new nanoporous catalysts requires reliable characterization methods. We critically analyze different methods which are currently used for pore structure characterization in the range of nanometers. Calculations of the pore size distributions from nitrogen and argon adsorption isotherms are presented. Our primary method is based on the NLDFT model of adsorption on MCM-41, developed earlier. The results obtained with the NLDFT model are compared with other methods. It is shown, that the pore structure of nanoporous catalysts can be quite complex, and that Ar and N isotherms contain compli- 2 mentary information. The NLDFT model is recommended for evaluation of pore size distributions in nanoporous catalysts and other MCM-41 based materials. Q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Bridging scales from molecular simulations to classical thermodynamics: density functional theory of capillary condensation in nanopores

With the example of the capillary condensation of Lennard-Jones fluid in nanopores ranging from 1 to 10 nm, we show that the non-local density functional theory (NLDFT) with properly chosen parameters of intermolecular interactions bridges the scale gap from molecular simulations to macroscopic thermodynamics. On the one hand, NLDFT correctly approximates the results of Monte Carlo simulations (shift of vapour–liquid equilibrium, spinodals, density profiles, adsorption isotherms) for pores wider than about 2 nm. On the other hand, NLDFT smoothly merges (above 7–10 nm) with the Derjaguin–Broekhoff–de Boer equations which represent augmented Laplace–Kelvin equations of capillary condensation and desorption.

Plugged hexagonal templated silica: a unique micro- and mesoporous composite material with internal silica nanocapsulesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1: X-ray diffractogram of a PHTS material. Fig. S2: TEM images of SBA-15 and PHTS-2. Fig. S3: hydrothermal stabilities. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b2/b201424f/

We describe in this paper the development of plugged hexagonal templated silicas (PHTS) which are hexagonally ordered materials, with internal microporous silica nanocapsules; they have a combined micro- and mesoporosity and a tuneable amount of both open and encapsulated mesopores and are much more stable than other tested micellar templated structures.

Calculations of Pore Size Distributions in Nanoporous Materials from Adsorption and Desorption Isotherms

Abstract The recently developed density functional theory method for pore size distribution analysis from nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms is extended to materials with pores ranging from 2 to 100 nm. The method is based on the nonlocal density functional theory (NLDFT) of capillary condensation hysteresis in cylindrical pores. It is shown that NLDFT correctly predicts both the adsorption and desorption branches of the hysteretic isotherms in materials with cylindrical pores wider than ca. 5 nm. For pores larger than ca. 6 nm, the NLDFT results agree well with the thermodynamic theory of Derjaguin-Broekhoff-de Boer. When pore-blocking (networking) effects are insignificant, both branches of the experimental isotherm produce identical pore size distributions. The NLDFT method is validated against literature data on capillary condensation in MCM-41 type materials with pores from 5 to 10 nm.

Control of zeolite framework flexibility and pore topology for separation of ethane and ethylene

Purifying ethylene with flexible zeolites Ethylene is a key feedstock for many chemicals and polymers, but its production requires cryogenic separation from ethane, an energy-consuming step. In theory, pure silica zeolites are well suited to separate olefins from paraffins. Bereciartua et al. synthesized a pure silica zeolite with very small pores, which, if static, would not adsorb either of these hydrocarbons. However, molecular dynamics suggested that the pores should be flexible. Indeed, in competitive adsorption experiments, the zeolite preferentially adsorbed ethylene from a mixed stream of ethylene and ethane. Science, this issue p. 1068 A pure silica zeolite has small, flexible pores that preferentially adsorb ethylene over ethane. The discovery of new materials for separating ethylene from ethane by adsorption, instead of using cryogenic distillation, is a key milestone for molecular separations because of the multiple and widely extended uses of these molecules in industry. This technique has the potential to provide tremendous energy savings when compared with the currently used cryogenic distillation process for ethylene produced through steam cracking. Here we describe the synthesis and structural determination of a flexible pure silica zeolite (ITQ-55). This material can kinetically separate ethylene from ethane with an unprecedented selectivity of ~100, owing to its distinctive pore topology with large heart-shaped cages and framework flexibility. Control of such properties extends the boundaries for applicability of zeolites to challenging separations.

New High- and Low-Temperature Phase Changes of ZIF-7: Elucidation and Prediction of the Thermodynamics of Transitions.

We have found that the 3D zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-7 exhibits far more complex behavior in response to the adsorption of guest molecules and changes in temperature than previously thought. We believe that this arises from the existence of different polymorphs and different types of adsorption sites. We report that ZIF-7 undergoes a displacive, nondestructive phase change upon heating to above ∼700 °C in vacuum, or to ∼500 °C in CO2 or N2. This is the first example of a temperature-driven phase change in 3D ZIF frameworks. We predicted the occurrence of the high-temperature transition on the basis of thermodynamic arguments and analyses of the solid free-energy differences obtained from CO2 and n-butane adsorption isotherms. In addition, we found that ZIF-7 exhibits complex behavior in response to the adsorption of CO2 manifesting in double transitions on adsorption isotherms and a doubling of the adsorption capacity. We report adsorption microcalorimetry, molecular simulations, and detailed XRD investigations of the changes in the crystal structure of ZIF-7. Our results highlight mechanistic details of the phase transitions in ZIF-7 that are driven by adsorption of guest molecules at low temperature and by entropic effects at high temperature. We derived a phase diagram of CO2 in ZIF-7, which exhibits surprisingly complex re-entrant behavior and agrees with our CO2 adsorption measurements over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. We predicted phase diagrams of CH4, C3H6, and C4H10. Finally, we modeled the temperature-induced transition in ZIF-7 using molecular dynamics simulations in the isobaric-isothermal ensemble, confirming our thermodynamic arguments.

Accurate structure determination of a borosilicate zeolite EMM-26 with two-dimensional 10 × 10 ring channels using rotation electron diffraction

A new borosilicate zeolite |N2H36C16|[Si22B2O48]·H2O, denoted as EMM-26, has been synthesized by employing a linear dicationic organic structure directing agent 1,6-bis(N-methylpyrrolidinium)hexane (OSDA). EMM-26 has a novel zeolite framework and contains two-dimensional (2D) intersecting 10 × 10-ring channels. Its structure was solved from sub-micrometer sized crystals using rotation electron diffraction (RED) and refined against both the RED and synchrotron powder diffraction data. We have shown for the first time that RED data alone can be used to accurately determine zeolite structures. The OSDAs can be removed from the framework generating permanent pores. EMM-26 shows good CO2 uptake and CO2/CH4 selectivity.

The effects of pyridine on the structure of B-COFs and the underlying mechanism

Previous work demonstrated the ability of a trace amount of pyridine to stabilize Covalent Organic Frameworks (COF)-5 and -10 in humid air. Pyridine was found to form a mixture of Lewis and Bronsted B[4] Py–B complexes in addition to the un-complexed B[3] sites in the framework structures. Further research has shown that higher doses of pyridine convert all remaining B[3] in COF-5/-10 to Lewis B[4] and bring about the total and irreversible structural decomposition of COF-5 and COF-10. The results suggest that the accumulated strain in the five-member rings of COF-5/-10 resulting from the formation of tetrahedrally-distorted B[4] sites at high pyridine loadings, may explain the decomposition of these structures. Alternatively, COF-1 is unstable to exposure to humid air at all pyridine loadings tried, but is not unstable to high doses of pyridine. Whereas the same tetrahedrally-distorted B[4] sites are formed in COF-1, in this case the six-membered B3O3 ring can accommodate the accumulated ring strain and retain an ordered structure. A thorough solid state NMR and molecular dynamics investigation has led to a new proposed stabilization mechanism in humid air based on the formation of Bronsted B[4].