Zihao Gao, Cristian Aristizabal-González, Prerna, Xiujie Weng, Junyan Zhang, Nayeon Kang, Wenqian Xu, Dongxia Liu, J. Ilja Siepmann, Arturo J. Hernández‐Maldonado, Michael Tsapatsis
Extra-large pore zeolites exhibit structural features distinct from those of classical zeolites, with potential consequences in their use as adsorbents and catalysts. A low-framework-density zeolite, ZEO-5, was synthesized via interchain expansion, forming unprecedented triple four-ring (t4r) units, creating a fully connected framework with 20-membered-ring pores. Here, we report that ZEO-5 exhibits unique water adsorption behavior. Initially hydrophobic, it undergoes a sharp increase in water uptake within a narrow range of relative pressure, transitioning into a hydrophilic status, with a pronounced desorption hysteresis. Characterization by synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction, porosimetry, in situ infrared spectroscopy, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance reveals structural degradation via Si─O─Si bond cleavage within the highly strained t4r unit. Remarkably, upon recalcination, the original structure of ZEO-5, including its t4r units, is fully restored, establishing a reversible adsorption-induced order-disorder structural transformation. Similar behavior occurs with other polar molecules, including ammonia and alcohols, underscoring the broader implications of this ZEO-5 feature for adsorptive separations and for pore functionalization. At 423K, ZEO-5 exhibits high ammonia working capacity between 11 and 1.1 bar adsorption and desorption pressures, respectively, surpassing the corresponding performance of commercial aluminosilicate zeolites. Structure models, consistent with experimental observations, and molecular simulation are used to explain this phenomenon.