Pulsed Laser Deposition of zeolitic thin films: Novel structures for molecular recognition

Pulsed Laser Deposition is used to deposit zeolitic films onto a substrate. Using this technique, thin films are formed using both mordenite and faujasite targets. The target application for the films was the development of gas-selective sensors. These films are comprised of small crystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix. The amorphous material is microporous having pore sizes on the order of those in the parent zeolites. These pores are oriented perpendicular to the substrate. Pore orientation coupled with the high porosity provides a thin film with a potential for high gas throughputs. Quartz crystal microbalances coated with the material have been tested for gas uptake and have shown to discriminate between isomers of small molecules. Beyond sensors, the zeolitic films may hold promise for such applications as membranes.