Abstract
Delaminated and pillared zeolites are an innovative family of molecular sieves which introduced a different concept inside the synthesis of active catalysts or inorganic supports. These types of materials exhibit an elevated accessibility due to their open structure, characterized by the high external surface area without imposed restrictions controlled by the pore sizes. These open zeolites are conformed by crystalline ordered (pillared zeolites) or disordered (delaminated zeolites) individual layers, exhibiting textural properties which are favorable to carry out catalytic processes in which it is necessary to employ catalysts with completely accessible active sites. The elevated external surface area of these zeolites is profitable to generate more specific organic-inorganic materials, acting in this case as stable inorganic matrixes. The preparation of this open type-zeolites family is based on the modification of, previously synthesized, zeolitic precursors which are preexpanded to obtain the final delaminated or pillared zeolites which exhibit very different physicochemical properties compared with the starting precursors. Along this paper, the most relevantMWW-type high accessible zeoliticmaterials will be considered. Their nature, characteristics, and reactivity will be shown in the function of the employed synthesis method for their preparation and the postsynthesis treatments carried out, tuning their properties.
