In Situ Visualisation of Zeolite Anisotropic Framework Flexibility During Catalysis

Zeolites play an important role in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis and separation processes. Despite significant achievements made so far, the fundamental understandings of molecular adsorption and diffusion under the confinement of nanoporous zeolites is still a challenging question. Zeolites exhibit framework flexibility driving their chemical and catalytic properties. Using in situ time-resoved Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging at ESRF/ID01, we aim to unveil the dynamics of the zeolite structure during catalysis. We aim to investigate the dynamics of the crystal lattice deformations taking place during adsorption, diffusion and chemical reaction in the nanoporous zeolites. We will follow the zeolites during the bio-ethanol adsorption and ethanol dehydration reaction in order to reveal their lattice dynamics behaviour at the nanoscale level. Understanding zeolite flexibility would permit to tune zeolites properties towards higher adsorption and selectivity.