Article ID: 010404
Despite great efforts to achieve ideal atomistic packings of carbon within the pore networks of even the largest pore zeolites, templating inaccuracies are ubiquitous in all presently synthesized zeolite-templated carbon (ZTC) materials. Idealized models suggest that long-sought schwarzite-like structures could in principle be realized via zeolite templating if the appropriate zeolite template is chosen (e.g., FAU for D-surface schwarzites) and if perfect template fidelity (insertion of a pristine layer of pure carbon directly at the surface of the zeolite) could be achieved. A requirement to achieve such structures is increased carbon density within the zeolite. Herein, we investigate a series of alkali metal cation-exchanged zeolites to determine how the periodic trends in the group 1 elements influence zeolite templating, with a specific focus on the metric of structural packing density (SPD) as resolved by ex situ thermogravimetry. In a survey based on controlled synthesis temperature, time, and flow conditions, increasing SPD was observed with decreasing cation size, an effect that is consistent with the increasing strength of cation-π interactions. This effect could be promising for future work to increase the SPD of ZTCs toward the synthesis of closed-tube, schwarzite-like carbonaceous solids.
