The Synthesis of ZSM-5 Nanosheets and Its Catalytic Performance for <italic>n</italic>-Hexane Cracking

ZSM-5 nanosheets with high crystallinity were successfully synthesized at low-cost using the diquaternary ammonium surfactant (C18-6-3) extracted from as-synthesized ZSM-5 nanosheets as structure-directing agent (SDA). The physicochemical properties of the zeolite nanosheets, including morphology, pore architecture, and acidity, were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), and low-temperature N2 physisorption. Their catalytic performance was evaluated in the n-hexane cracking reaction. The results demonstrated that the extraction of C18-6-3 did not influence the textural properties of the parent ZSM-5 nanosheets. By using the extracted C18-6-3 as SDA, the synthesized ZSM-5 nanosheets exhibit not only high crystallinity and high mesopore volume, but also excellent performance in the catalytic conversion of n-hexane. This strategy substantially reduced the consumption of the expensive C18-6-3 surfactant and lowered the cost of synthesizing ZSM-5 nanosheets.