Flexibility of ideal zeolite frameworks

V. Kapko, C. Dawson, Michael Treacy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

We explore the flexibility windows of the 194 presently-known zeolite frameworks. The flexibility window represents a range of densities within which an ideal zeolite framework is stress-free. Here, we consider the ideal zeolite to be an assembly of rigid corner-sharing perfect tetrahedra. The corner linkages between tetrahedra are hard-sphere oxygen atoms, which are presumed to act as freely-rotating, force-free, spherical joints. All other inter-tetrahedral forces, such as coulomb interactions, are ignored. Thus, the flexibility window represents the null-space of the kinematic matrix that governs the allowable internal motions of the ideal zeolite framework. We show that almost all of the known aluminosilicate or aluminophosphate zeolites exhibit a flexibility window. Consequently, the presence of flexibility in a hypothetical framework topology promises to be a valuable indicator of synthetic feasibility. We describe computational methods for exploring the flexibility window, and discuss some of the exceptions to this flexibility rule.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8531-8541
Number of pages11
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume12
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Flexibility of ideal zeolite frameworks'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this