The porous structure of zeolites makes them ideal for use as molecular sieves or catalysts for chemical reactions. Working at the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain, a team led by Avelino Corma has been working to expand the uses for zeolites by synthesizing materials with large pores and interconnected channels.

The researchers had established that, by using germanium in the framework and the small organic compound hexamethonium as a structure-directing agent, they could generate crystals with the pore size they were after. But the syntheses resulted in crystals with varying structures and pore sizes. “Many different structures could crystallize,” says Corma.

So the chemists turned to high-throughput synthesis in an attempt to identify a reaction and product that would meet their requirements. PhD student Manuel Moliner subsequently ran 193 different syntheses, expanding the parameters and conditions beyond his adviser's remit. The result, described on page 842, was ITQ-33, a zeolite with extra-large pores that are linked together by perpendicular channels. “Manuel's boldness to test rather unusual synthesis conditions was rewarded with ITQ-33,” says Corma.

The team has already shown that ITQ-33 can be used to generate more diesel and propylene, and less gasoline, from gasoil.