Rapid Crystallization of Silicalite Nanocrystals in a Capillary Microreactor

Silicalite nanocrystals were synthesized in a pressurized capillary microreactor at 150 °C within 11 min with synthesis solutions aged at 80 or 100 °C for 1–6 h. The effects of aging of the synthesis solution and the reaction pressure were examined. The resulting products were characterized by XRD, DLS, TEM, FT‐IR and TG‐DSC. Aging of the synthesis solution played an important role in shortening the crystallization time of the silicalites. The synthesis pressure should be higher than the saturation vapor pressure of water at 150 °C (∼0.5 MPa) and silicalite nanocrystals with crystallinities of 70 % and 100 % could be produced from the synthesis solution aged at 100 °C for 2 h with residence times of 11 min at 0.7 MPa and 1 MPa, respectively. The mean particle sizes of these two samples were 102.2 nm and 166.4 nm, respectively. Thus, the crystallization time of the silicalite nanocrystals is shown to be significantly reduced in the capillary microreactor compared to a traditional batch system. Silicalite nanocrystals are synthesized in a pressurized capillary microreactor for the first time at different temperatures and reaction times. The effects of aging of the synthesis solution and the reaction pressure are examined. The results reveal that the capillary microreactor is very efficient for the rapid synthesis of silicalite nanocrystals.