(359a) Hierarchical Nano-Manufacturing Of Zeolite Membranes

Despite more than a decade of intense research aiming to harness the high-resolution selectivity of thin zeolite films as alternatives to energy-intensive industrial separations, membranes consisting of intergrown, oriented zeolite crystals have fallen short of gaining wide commercial traction. Factors including insufficient performance, high cost, and difficulties in scale up have contributed to this lack of broad commercial realization and have also stunted their application in other niche markets. Until recently, the elusive mechanism of zeolite growth has served as a significant hurdle, limiting capabilities for rational materials design and forcing more Edisonian approaches. New understanding of zeolite growth along with recent advances in molecular engineering of crystal microstructure and morphology, assembly of crystal monolayers, and growth of ordered films with controlled microstructure, constitute a stronger foundation for meeting stringent industrial demands in the future. With development of novel processing capabilities, such a foundation should make it possible to synthesize commercially viable zeolite membranes through hierarchical approaches that couple crystal engineering, monolayer assembly, and controlled thin film growth. Moreover, such advances open exciting prospects beyond the realm of separations for assembly of novel and complex functional materials including molecular sensors, mechanically stable dielectrics, and novel reaction-diffusion devices.