Rapid fabrication of highly b-oriented zeolite MFI thin films using ammonium salts as crystallization-mediating agents.

A new route to the synthesis of highly b-oriented zeolite MFI films is demonstrated for the first time using ammonium salts as crystallization-mediating agents in secondary growth. The ammonium salts tailor the crystallization process and silicate-NH4(+) interactions dominate over TPA-NH4(+) interactions so that nucleation was effectively suppressed during secondary growth.