Zeolites from a Materials Chemistry Perspective

Zeolites and zeolite-like materials are continually finding new applications. Because of the uniformity of these solids, the expression of macroscale materials properties that are controlled by the materials chemistry at the atomic/molecular scale are achievable. In this Perspective, I discuss the following areas of current interest in zeolites and zeolite-like materials that rely on manipulation of the materials chemistry for their preparation and provide new opportunities for application: (i) exploitation of organic structure-directing agents (SDAs) for new materials, (ii) the synthesis of zeolites without SDAs, (iii) the synthesis of very hydrophobic materials, (iv) conversions of two-dimensional (2D) to 3D materials and vice versa, (v) hierarchically organized materials, (vi) chiral materials, and (vii) direction of tetrahedral atoms to specific framework positions.