Porous materials are solids that contain pores (voids or empty spaces) within their structure. These pores allow the materials to store, transport, or react with molecules. Porous materials are widely applied in various fields, including catalysis, ion exchange, adsorption, filtration, and energy storage, owing to their ability to interact with fluids and gases. Based on pore size, they are classified into micropores (<2 nm), mesopores (2–50 nm), and macropores (>50 nm). Examples of porous materials include metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), mesoporous silica materials, and especially zeolites. In this work, we have been designing zeolites to improve catalytic activity through the development of hierarchical zeolites1-10, zeolite composites11-21, and metal-incorporated zeolites22-31. Moreover, we focus on synthesizing zeolites from waste materials such as sand, glass slides, and agricultural waste (e.g., corn cobs).1-2
- Hierarchical zeolites possess a multi-level porous structure, typically combining micropores inherent to zeolite frameworks with mesopores and/or macropores. This multi-scale porosity addresses a major limitation of conventional zeolites—slow mass transport due to small micropores—by introducing larger pores to improve diffusion, accessibility to active sites, and overall catalytic performance. Therefore, we are developing various types of hierarchical zeolites, such as Faujasite (FAU), Zeolite Beta (BEA), ZSM-5 (MFI), Mordenite (MOR), ZSM-12 and ZSM-48 and Ferrierite (FER), for applications including ethanol conversion to high-value chemicals, glucose transformation to HMF and FDCA, and propane aromatization.1-10
- Zeolite composites are hybrid materials in which zeolites are combined with other components, such as metal oxides, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), carbonaceous materials (e.g., CNTs), or other zeolites, to enhance functionality beyond what pure zeolites can offer. These composites are designed to improve properties such as thermal stability, acidity/basicity, mass transport, mechanical strength, and catalytic performance. For example, BEA-CNT composites have shown synergistic behavior between the zeolite and the carbon nanotube framework.11-21
- Metal incorporation in zeolites enhances the dispersion of active metal sites within the zeolite framework. These metal-zeolite composites are engineered for multifunctional applications in catalysis, such as biomass (glucose/ethanol) conversion22-28, dehydrogenation/aromatization of alkanes29-30, and CO₂ hydrogenation.31-32
Reference:
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2. Salakhum, S.; Yutthalekha, T.; Chareonpanich, M.; Limtrakul J.; Wattanakit, C.* Synthesis of hierarchical faujasite nanosheets from corn cob ash-derived nanosilica as efficient catalysts for hydrogenation of lignin-derived alkylphenols. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2018, 258, 141-150.
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4. Yutthalekha, T.; Wattanakit, C.; Warakulwit, C.; Wannapakdee, W.; Rodponthukwaji, K.; Witoon, T.; Limtrakul, J.* Hierarchical FAU-type zeolite nanosheets as green and sustainable catalysts for Benzylation of Toluene. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017, 142 (3), 1244-1251.
5. Shetsiri, S.; Thivasasith, A.; Wannapakdee, W.; Saenluang, K.; Wetchasat, P.; Salakhum, S.; Nokbin, S.; Limtrakul, J.; Wattanakit, C.* Sustainable production of ethylene from bioethanol over hierarchical ZSM-5 nanosheets. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 2019, 3, 115-126.
6. Dugkhuntod, P.; Imyen, T.*; Wannapakdee, W.; Yutthalekha.; Salakhum, S.; Wattanakit, C. Synthesis of Hierarchical ZSM-12 Nanolayers for Levulinic Acid Esterification with Ethanol to Ethyl Levulinate. RSC Adv. 2019, 9, 18087–18097.
7. Imyen, T.; Saenluang, K.; Dugkhuntod, P.; Wattanakit, C.* Investigation of ZSM-12 nanocrystals evolution derived from aluminosilicate nanobeads for sustainable production of ethyl levulinate from levulinic acid esterification with ethanol
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9. Rodaum, C.; Thivasasith, A.; Iadrat, P.; Kidkhunthod, P.; Pengpanich, S.; Wattanakit, C.* Ge‐Substituted Hierarchical Ferrierite for n‐pentane Cracking to Light Olefins: Mechanistic Investigations via In‐situ DRIFTS Studies and DFT Calculations
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