Structure Determination
Zeolites are defined by their structural topology and so it is extremely important that we know how to obtain experimental information that helps us to determine the structure of any zeolite material. In this chapter we will explore how different techniques can be used to provide different types of information. X-Ray diffraction is by far the most common method for obtaining such information, but as the complexity of materials increases it is very important to ensure that other techniques are used to provide complementary information. We will therefore look at X-ray diffraction and scattering techniques for the determination of crystalline and non-crystalline structure, nuclear magnetic resonance for the study of local structure, and gas adsorption measurements for the study of porosity. Complementary information can also be obtained using electron microscopy and computational studies – these will be covered in other chapters.