Preparation of partially oriented zeolite MCM-22 membranes via pulsed laser deposition

Thin films of the zeolite MCM-22 have been prepared via pulsed laser deposition for the first time. Laser ablation of as-synthesized layered precursor MCM-22(P) onto TiN coated silicon wafers, polished graphite and porous stainless steel frits followed by a post-hydrothermal treatment results in partially oriented crystalline MCM-22(P) membranes where the a direction is largely normal to the substrate surface. Further heating leads to fully condensed MCM-22 zeolite membranes. These thin films were characterized by XRD, SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy. The oriented MCM-22 membrane grown on porous stainless steel was evaluated for the room temperature separation of the alcohol/water mixture and selective permeation of the water was observed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.