Metal cation-exchanged zeolites with the location, state, and size of metal species controlled.

Rh ion-exchanged MFI-type aluminosilicate zeolites with different Al distributions were prepared for controlling the location, state, and size of Rh species. The MFI-type aluminosilicate zeolite with the framework Al atoms predominantly located inside the channel intersections lead to the formation of relatively large Rh species, which were confirmed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. Moreover, this catalyst showed a high catalytic activity for the oxidative reforming reaction of methane.