The use of synchrotron radiation in the caracterization of zeolites and zeotype materials

In the last three decades a remarkable progress has been obtained in the synthesis of new zeolite and, more generally, zeotype materials representing a large family of microporous solids characterized by sets of three- bi- or mono-dimensional (in some cases interconnected) channels. Such materials have gained an increasing important role in the field of heterogeneous catalysis, where the advantage to have a solid catalyst characterized by three-dimensional surfaces of enormous magnitude (up to 103 m2 g-1) is of great importance. In this field, the most relevant applications are in petrolchemistry, pollution control and in the synthesis of fine chemicals. The important role played by SR facilities in both diffraction and absorption experiments in the characterization of zeolite and zeotype material will be emphasized by selecting some relevant examples.