Preparation, characterisation and catalytic activity of ITQ-2, a delaminated zeolite

ITQ-2 is the first member of the class of delaminated zeolite precursors. Here we present data to corroborate its proposed structure. Sorption measurements show that ITQ-2 no longer contains large 12-membered-ring (12MR) cavities typical for the non-delaminated MWW-type zeolite, and only retained the 10-membered-ring (10MR) system inside the layer. Adsorption and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) experiments confirm that delamination allows the ITQ-2 layer to retain most of its structural integrity. The catalytic properties of ITQ-2 are in agreement with those expected from an aluminosilicate that combines a large, catalytically active external surface with the 10MR channel system.