Langmuir-blodgett deposited monolayers of silicalite-1 seeds for secondary growth of continuous zeolite film

The formation of a dense monolayer of methanol treated Silicate-1 nanocrystals on Si wafer was demonstrated using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique and its successful use as a seed layer for preparing a continuous zeolite film by subsequent secondary growth was presented. SEM results proved that a well developed dense Silicate-1 film was obtained, which demonstrated that the LB monolayers are ideal seeds on which continuous zeolite films can be grown. Fourier transform infrared analysis was used to investigate the colloidal Silicate-1 surface properties and showed that identical spectra were recorded for powders. The LB technique was shown to be a useful means of preparing high quality smooth and homogeneous monolayer films of closely packed Silicate-1 crystals. These finding may be applied to a range of other zeolite systems for which Silicate-1 modification by other alcohols.