Synthesis of nanocrystalline sodalite with organic additives

Ethanol, urea and acetone were used as organic additives in the synthesis of nanocrystalline sodalite. The sodalite crystals with sizes of less than 100 nm were produced when ethanol was introduced in the synthesis solution. When both ethanol and urea were present, the resultant sodalites exhibited even smaller crystal sizes, and showed a nitrogen sorption capability as high as around 170-180 cm³/g and a BET surface area of over 78.3 m²/g. However, the addition of acetone in the synthesis solution yielded sodalite with sizes of ca. 200 nm and a trace amount of zeolite A.