Abstract
The nucleation and crystal growth of a nanoscale cesium pollucite aluminosilicate zeolite (ANA topology) from an organotemplate-free precursor suspension are reported. By using a new and reactive synthesis recipe (5.5SiO
2
: 1Al
2
O
3
: 6Cs
2
O : 140H
2
O), zeolite nanocrystals with higher Al content (Si/Al ratio = 2.12) are obtained within 120 min under mild conditions (180 °C), which is much faster and safer as compared to those previously reported. The solid initially experiences amorphous phase re-organization before nucleation, crystallization and crystal growth take place. The resulting Cs-pollucite nanocrystals (average size 55 nm) display a trapezohedron morphology. The nanocrystals are colloidally stabilized in water and they are very active in the base-catalyzed cyanoethylation of dipropylamine reaction, giving 89.6% conversion at 180 °C within 50 min. In addition, a high solid yield of nanocrystals (
ca.
70%) is also achieved, thus offering a green pathway for synthesizing zeolite nanocrystals with high basicity on a large scale.