Double Unit-Cell Silicogermanate Nanosheets Developed by Salting-Out Mechanism for Biomass Conversion

Zeolite nanosheets with an extremely thin thickness featuring
both
unique pore systems and low diffusion resistance have the potential
to achieve enhanced catalytic performance in the conversion of bulky
molecular biomass. The preparation of unit-cell level nanosheets generally
requires complex and costly multifunctional surfactants or an organic
structure-directing agent (OSDA). Commercially available and environmentally
friendly ionic liquids can also direct the structure of zeolite nanosheets
by π–π stacking when these kinds of OSDA are used
in large amount. Herein, we first report unit-cell-sized silicogermanate
nanosheets of NS-IM-20 (UWY topology), 5 nm in thickness,
which were synthesized at a relatively low ionic liquid concentration
with the assistance of halide ion (Cl–). The Pd-loaded
NS-IM-20 nanosheets with a hierarchical porosity and moderate acidity
act as promising bifunctional catalysts for selective biomass conversion.