Low-Density, Low-Energy, Zeolites Assembled from Double-Layer Silica Sheets

Abstract

Stand-alone double-layer silicates have recently been reported. We propose several families of low-density hypothetical zeolites based on these silicate bilayers, which exhibit favorable framework energy and are flexible. The double-layer walls within the structures can be extended indefinitely with low energy cost, leading to arbitrarily large pore openings and occupiable volume. These types of structure raise the possibility of materials with vanishingly low densities, extremely wide channels, and tunable pore diameter and shape.