Designing Zeolites As Novel Precursors To Electronic Ceramics

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe decomposition of zeolites is a novel route for the synthesis of aluminosilicate-based ceramic materials. Zeolites offer a number of advantages as ceramic precursors which allow the formation of dense ceramics at lower temperatures than by conventional methods. Using various cation-exchanged zeolites, ceramics and ceramic composites containing anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8). mullite (Al6Si2O11) cordierite (Mg2Al4Si5O18). celsian (BaAl2Si2O8), and ß-spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) have been formed. Using Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), we have studied the reconstructive transformation of strontium-exchanged zeolite A to Sr-anorthite and have shown that the primary coordination of strontium remains intact during conversion.