Incorporating mesoporosity into zeolite catalysts has been regarded as an innovative technology that improves diffusivity and catalytic lifetime. Here, we propose a facile synthesis of the hierarchically structured ZSM-5 with accompanying intracrystalline mesopores, which was achieved by controlling the growth rate of the zeolite nanocrystals without using extra additives. As the crystallization temperature is strongly related to the formation of primary nanocrystals and their further growth, which fills gaps between those nanocrystals, the hierarchically structured ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized at low crystallization temperatures (<140 °C). 27 Al MAS NMR and UV-vis-DRS analyses revealed that the hierarchically structured ZSM-5 prepared in the present study contained Al located in the straight channel at a higher proportion than the conventional microporous ZSM-5. The substitution of Al was calculated to be more difficult at the channel intersection than at other T-sites, supporting the experimental results. The hierarchically structured ZSM-5 exhibited excellent stability as well as selectivity for a methanol-to-olefin reaction. Reaction free energies calculated along the hydrocarbon pool mechanism pathway revealed that the Al located in the straight channel drives the reaction through the alkene-based cycle, which is responsible for the high olefin selectivity of the hierarchically structured ZSM-5.

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A functionalized isoreticular metal organic framework material, F-IRMOF-3, having a quaternary ammonium group was prepared by fast precipitation and solvothermal method. The synthesized MOFs exhibited good catalytic performance in the synthesis of glycerol carbonate (GC) from glycerol and urea. F-IRMOF-3 having a larger alkyl chain structure and a more nucleophilic counter anion than the synthesized congeners, exhibited better reactivity in the synthesis of GC. The introduction of a ZnO defect into the F-IRMOF-3 structure by fast precipitation was more advantageous for the glycerolysis of urea than the conventional solvothermal method because of the incorporation of acid-base bifunctional active sites by the former method. The effects of reaction parameters such as temperature, reaction time, catalyst loading, and degree of vacuum on the reactivity were also investigated. The F-IRMOF-3 catalyst can be easily recovered and reused without considerable loss of its initial activity.

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