Prof. Suk Bong Hong (CE), Jiho Shin (CE Ph.D.), and Nak Ho Ahn (CE Ph.D. candidate) successfully combined a new zeolite that has a NAT structure-a natural zeolite made by Al and Si. They also demonstrated the elements’ dynamic motion in zeolite.
Zeolite is used as an accelerator. It has different physicochemical properties depending on the amount of Al and Al’s distribution. People did not know how elements in zeolite move to an orderly position from a disorderly position. Prof. Hong reacted the new zeolite with a Ga compound, which is another synthetic element. Then he observed the distribution change of Ga using transmission electron microscopy and the solid NMR method. He confirmed that Ga are located with a stable state in thermodynamics through elements’ movement, not through small pores in zeolite.
Prof. Hong said “This result helps us understand elements’ property. Also based on the result, we can control the property of zeolite and then can make a new zeolite”.
The result was announced in Angewandte Chemie and the paper was evaluated as a major paper with importance among the top five percent.