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S Mintova

Publications and source records attributed to S Mintova.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Nondestructive identification of colloidal molecular sieves stabilized in water.

The encapsulation of small quaternary ammonium ions in zeolite frameworks could be used as a base for investigation of the crystallization process of colloidal (nanosized) molecular sieves stabilized in water with Raman and (13)C NMR spectroscopic methods. The organic-framework interactions in colloidal microporous materials with LTA, FAU, BEA, and MFI topology have been considered; the results show that the crystallinity of nanosized particles with monomodal particle size distribution stabilized in water can be examined using the vibrational and magnetic resonance spectral features of the organic template molecules occluded in the specific pores and cages in the zeolite framework. The molecular packing effect and restricted mobility due to specific organic/framework interactions result in shifts and substantial broadening of the (13)C NMR signals, as well as in changes of the positions and the relative intensities of the Raman peaks. The spectroscopic methods are very efficient for analyzing the crystalline structures of nanosized molecular sieves stabilized in aqueous suspensions due to no restrictions related to the particle size.

Journal Article↗

Interlayer stacking disorder in zeolite beta family: a Raman spectroscopic study.

Raman spectroscopy has been applied to series of BEA- and BEC-type samples differing from each other in size, Si/Al ratio and polymorph percentage in order to analyse the effect of interlayer stacking arrangements on the vibrational modes of zeolite beta. The Raman peaks observed in the spectral range 250-550 cm-1 were assigned to the rings building the basic (001)-layer and to those linking the adjacent layers in zeolite beta. It is shown that the intensity ratio rho between the Raman signals at 314 and 343 cm-1 is most sensitive to the degree of periodicity faults along the c direction. A larger value of rho indicates a larger size of polymorph stacking sequence, i.e. improvement of the stacking faultlessness. The interlayer stacking disorder and the degree of connectivity point defects are higher in nanosized zeolite beta than in micron-sized crystals. The Al content influences the concentration of defected SiOH groups, but is less important for the interlayer stacking sequences in colloidal zeolite beta.

Microscopy, Electron, Transmission↗

Ordered micro/mesoporous composite prepared as thin films.

A new synthesis method for preparation of thin films and powders consisting of zeolite beta nanocrystals embedded in ordered mesoporous silica matrix is described. The final structures possessing bimodal porosity, i.e., high degree of mesophase order and spatially defined microporous zeolite nanocrystals are obtained via simultaneous solvent evaporation of preformed silica/surfactant/ethanol/nanosized zeolite beta assemblies. The films were characterized with grazing-incident diffraction (GID), nitrogen sorption based on gravimetric measurements with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) devices, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is shown that the incorporation of beta nanocrystals in the mesoporous silica matrix and the mesophase order itself can be controlled through the variation of the fractional amounts of the zeolite nanoparticles and silica/surfactant solutions. The HR-TEM measurements showed that the nanosized Beta microporous crystals are separated and at the same time connected through an ordered mesostructured matrix.

Journal Article↗

Nanosized gismondine grown in colloidal precursor solutions.

A colloidal molecular sieve with GIS-type structure was prepared from aged aluminosilicate precursor solutions containing tetramethylammonium (TMA) hydroxide under hydrothermal treatment at 100 degrees C. The nucleation and the development of the GIS zeolite structure were studied by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopies, and liquid-state NMR spectroscopy. It is shown that the aging at room temperature leads to the formation of subcolloidal particles that incorporate TMA cations and form larger aggregates. After an extended heating of 13 days, a complete transformation from amorphous precursor material to crystalline GIS-type colloidal particles is observed. The mean hydrodynamic radius of the crystalline GIS particles is in the range of 30-50 nm. The specific template-framework interactions influence the spectral features of the TMA cations incorporated in the zeolite structure, thus making possible the use of the corresponding Raman spectra and 13C NMR data for the examination of the crystallinity of GIS-type colloidal particles stabilized in water.

Journal Article↗

Pure silica BETA colloidal zeolite assembled in thin films.

Pure silica nanoscale zeolite BETA with monomodal particle size distribution was synthesized from a colloidal precursor solution and successfully applied for the preparation of hydrophobic ultrathin films on silicon wafers via spin coating.

Journal Article↗

Electron Microscopy Reveals the Nucleation Mechanism of Zeolite Y from Precursor Colloids.

The growth of nanoscale crystals of zeolite Y from colloidal aluminosilicate gel particles has been investigated with high-resolution electron microscopy. Each amorphous gel particle nucleates only a single zeolite crystal, with nucleation beginning at the gel-solution interface (see scheme). Further growth of these nanocrystals is possible through the solution-mediated transport of framework building blocks.

Journal Article↗

Mechanism of zeolite A nanocrystal growth from colloids at room temperature.

The formation and growth of crystal nuclei of zeolite A from clear solutions at room temperature were studied with low-dose, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy in field emission mode and with in situ dynamic light scattering. Single zeolite A crystals nucleated in amorphous gel particles of 40 to 80 nanometers within 3 days at room temperature. The resulting nanoscale single crystals (10 to 30 nanometers) were embedded in the amorphous gel particles. The gel particles were consumed during further crystal growth at room temperature, forming a colloidal suspension of zeolite A nanocrystals of 40 to 80 nanometers. On heating this suspension at 80 degrees C, solution-mediated transport resulted in additional substantial crystal growth.

Colloids↗