Dynamics of water within Cu-loaded zeolites: A quasielastic neutron scattering study

Abstract

Quasielastic Neutron Scattering (QENS) was employed in order to probe the dynamics of water confined within copper-loaded MOR, MFI and CHA zeolite frameworks in the temperature range 100–300 K. At 100 K, motion was outside the experimental time window and the adsorbate appeared static. Rotational quasielastic line broadenings were observed across all three Cu-zeolites at 200 K; and both rotation and translation were pronounced at 300 K. The findings indicate Cu content and the cavity size affect water mobility, which appears to represent diffusion within localised clusters.

Keywords

• QENS
• Quasielastic neutron scattering
• Zeolite
• Confined water