An Ultrahigh CO2-Loaded Silicalite-1 Zeolite: Structural Stability and Physical Properties at High Pressures and Temperatures.

ABSTRACT

We report the formation of an ultrahigh CO2-loaded pure-SiO2 silicalite-1 structure at high pressure (0.7 GPa) from the interaction of empty zeolite and fluid CO2 medium. The CO2-filled structure was characterized in situ by means of synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. Rietveld refinements and Fourier recycling allowed the location of 16 guest carbon dioxide molecules per unit cell within the straight and sinusoidal channels of the porous framework to be analyzed. The complete filling of pores by CO2 molecules favors structural stability under compression, avoiding pressure-induced amorphization below 20 GPa, and significantly reduces the compressibility of the system compared to that of the parental empty one. The structure of CO2-loaded silicalite-1 was also monitored at high pressures and temperatures, and its thermal expansivity was estimated.