Structural Studies of Aluminated form of Zeolites—EXAFS and XRD Experiment, STEM Micrography, and DFT Modelling

Abstract

In this article, the results of computational structural studies on Al-containing zeolites, via periodic DFT + D modelling and FDM (Finite Difference Method) to solve the Schrödinger equation (FDMNES) for XAS simulations, corroborated by EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) spectroscopy and PXRD (powder X-ray diffractometry), are presented. The applicability of Radial Distribution Function (RDF) to screen out the postulated zeolite structure is also discussed. The structural conclusions are further verified by HR-TEM imaging.

Keywords

• zeolites
• EXAFS
• DFT
• HR-TEM
• XRD