Calorimetric insights into the synthesis of templated materials

Major recent advances: In situ calorimetric studies of zeolite synthesis have been performed under conditions where the growing templated zeolite remains in contact with its aqueous solution. Nanoparticles form first, then aggregate to form the zeolite. As surface area decreases, hydroxyl ions begin to desorb from the shrinking surface of the growing crystals, raising the pH, causing a shift from exothermic to endothermic enthalpy of reaction, and slowing the completion of synthesis.