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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Surface patterns of porous zeolite structures such as knotted-rope web and wrinkled honeycomb were obtained by dynamic self-assembly of zeolite nanoparticles during solvent evaporation of colloidal zeolite suspension. The study shows that extra ethanol in zeolite synthesis solution is crucial for pattern formation. The addition of ethanol helps produce zeolite nanoparticles with a specific range of particle size during the hydrothermal synthesis. It also provides uniform dynamic driving force for pattern formation during its preferential evaporation. In addition, surface patterns vary with suspension compositions. The patterned zeolite structures have a well-defined bimodal pore size distribution (i.e., 0.55 nm and 2.6 nm) with high BET surface area of 680∼750m2&/g.