According to the objectives, we have considered two groups of catalytic process; a) A process where RTS is larger than the final product; b) A process where RTS is similar to the final product.
In parallel but connected with the above, we have worked with: a) directed zeolite synthesis by using materials that contain desired secondary building units (SBU) as the source for the synthesis of the final product; b) methods for crystal size control.
The main highlights of the results obtained are the following:
- A number of specific catalytic organic reactions within different groups, such as isomerization and transalkylation of alkyl aromatics, where selected and the RTS mimics were stablished.
- Different organic SDA mimics were designed and synthesized, and the syntheses of zeolites were carried out. One new zeolite structure (ITQ-64) and two already existing structures were obtained, which outperform product selectivity for the pre-established reactions when compared with actually used industrial catalysts (Science, 2017).
We have achieved zeolites with crystallite size in the order of 10-20 nm and zeolite monolayers by direct synthesis, materials that are of special interest when using RTS mimics with similar size than the products, and the pores opening of the zeolite obtained are smaller than the products.
With respect to active sites, we have successfully introduced BrØnsted and Lewis acid sites, together with single metal atoms, metal nanoclusters and metal nanoparticles within different zeolites (JACS 2016, Nature Materials 2017), following one-step or post-synthetic approaches. Finally, for molecular separations, a new structure has been achieved, which is able to separate ethane and ethene due to pore dimensions, pore topology and flexibility.
