Atomic Pair Distribution Study of the Growth of Metal Structures In Zeolites

Supported metal catalysts in zeolites are used commonly in many petroleum refinement processes. It is known that during synthesis the metal precursor goes through different stages that affect the final dispersion of the metal clusters but what is known about this process is limited. Experimental total scattering of high energy X rays analyzed as atomic pair distributions has been used here to obtain structural models of both the zeolite and the zeolite metal complex during synthesis. These models help understand the evolution of the metal species in the zeolite.