High-performance randomly oriented zeolite membranes using brittle seeds and rapid thermal processing

MFI zeolite membranes with high flux and high separation factors for xylene isomer separation were fabricated by combining several unique processing steps. These include 1)use of brittle seeds prepared by confined synthesis, 2)rubbing and leveling methods to obtain randomly oriented seed layers, 3)secondary hydrothermal growth to produce thin zeolite films, and 4)rapid thermal processing to remove structure-directing agents while minimizing crack formation (see picture; scale bar 500nm).