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Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials
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Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2789

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chengyi Dai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Interests: metal-zeolite catalysis; process coupling; diffusion
Dr. Junjie Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute, Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
Interests: zeolite synthesis; acid catalysis; dehydration reaction; alkylation reaction; cracking reaction
Dr. Jiaxing Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
Interests: zeolite nanosheet materials; diffusion; bifunctional catalyst; alkylation reaction; tandem reaction
Dr. Qingrun Meng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Key Laboratory of Energy Chemical and Nano-Catalysis, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou 121001, China
Interests: zeolite synthesis；heterogeneous catalysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials" explores the cutting-edge advancements in zeolite chemistry. Contributions should focus on innovative designs that tailor their properties (morphology, pore sizes, channel length, chemical compositions, etc.) for specific applications, novel and scalable synthetic methodologies that enhance the efficiency and scalability of zeolite production, and groundbreaking applications that offer unparalleled performance and versatility in catalysis, adsorption, separation, environmental remediation, and energy storage. We encourage submissions that present experimental and theoretical insights into the structure–property relationships of zeolites, as well as studies demonstrating their practical utility, with particular encouragement for interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of zeolite materials. Papers should be concise, well-organized, and include high-quality data and analysis. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for sharing the latest research findings and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of zeolite materials.

Prof. Dr. Chengyi Dai
Dr. Junjie Li
Guest Editors

Dr. Jiaxing Zhang
Dr. Qingrun Meng
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zeolite design
  • synthetic methodologies
  • catalytic applications
  • structure–activity relationships
  • zeolite nanoscale engineering
  • interdisciplinary applications
  • diffusion
  • selectivity

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 3150 KB  
Article
Zinc-Modified Mordenite Zeolite as a Molecular Carrier for Donepezil: A Framework for Drug Delivery Applications
by Diana Guaya, Lupe Carolina Espinoza, Ximena Jaramillo-Fierro, Dagmar Gualotuña Campoverde, Lilian Sosa and Ana Cristina Calpena
Molecules 2025, 30(21), 4174; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214174 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 437
Abstract
The development of advanced drug delivery systems is essential for improving therapeutic efficacy, particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. This study investigates zinc-modified mordenite zeolite (MR-ZN) as a novel platform for the controlled delivery of donepezil (DPZ), a [...] Read more.
The development of advanced drug delivery systems is essential for improving therapeutic efficacy, particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. This study investigates zinc-modified mordenite zeolite (MR-ZN) as a novel platform for the controlled delivery of donepezil (DPZ), a cholinesterase inhibitor. Natural mordenite was modified with zinc, enhancing its surface area from 62.1 to 85.4 m2/g and improving its adsorption properties. Donepezil was successfully loaded at two doses (10 mg and 23 mg), achieving high loading efficiencies of 95% and 94%, respectively. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.99), indicating that chemisorption predominates through coordination between DPZ functional groups and Zn2+ sites, while complementary physisorption via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions also contributes to molecular stabilization within the zeolite framework. In vitro release studies under simulated gastrointestinal conditions demonstrated sustained and pH-responsive release profile with 80% and 82% of donepezil released after 24 h for 10 mg and 23 mg formulations, respectively. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations revealed favorable adsorption energy (−26.4 kJ/mol), while Bader and Electron Localization Function (ELF) analyses confirmed hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions without compromising the zeolite framework. These findings validate MR-ZN as structurally stable, efficient, cost-effective and biocompatible matrix for oral drug delivery. The combination of experimental data and theoretical modeling supports its potential to improve bioavailability and therapeutic performance in neurodegenerative treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials)
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17 pages, 4728 KB  
Article
Construction of Hierarchical Fe-MFI Nanosheets with Enhanced Fenton-like Degradation Performance
by Haibo Jiang, Lin Xu, Qingrun Meng, Xu Feng, Junxuan Wang, Yankai Li and Junjie Li
Molecules 2025, 30(19), 4030; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30194030 - 9 Oct 2025
Viewed by 271
Abstract
Introducing hierarchical structure into zeolites or synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) zeolite nanosheets have drawn much attention in catalysis and separation process due to the improvement in zeolites’ diffusion properties. In this study, Fe incorporated on the MFI zeolite framework (Fe-MFI) with the nanosheet morphology [...] Read more.
Introducing hierarchical structure into zeolites or synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) zeolite nanosheets have drawn much attention in catalysis and separation process due to the improvement in zeolites’ diffusion properties. In this study, Fe incorporated on the MFI zeolite framework (Fe-MFI) with the nanosheet morphology and unique hierarchical pore structure was successfully synthesized and applied for the adsorption and degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in a Fenton-like reaction in the presence of H2O2. The synthesis involved a seed-directed hydrothermal method in the presence of NH4F and a subsequent NaOH treatment made the synthesized hierarchical Fe-MFI nanosheets (Fe-20-10) characterized by abundant highly dispersed framework Fe3+ species. As a result of these features, the Fe-20-10 showed excellent ability of adsorption and degradation efficiency of RhB, and enhanced durability due to negligible leaching of framework Fe3+ species. Moreover, the hydroxyl radicals were determined as the main the reactive oxygen species of RhB degradation, and a possible adsorption–degradation pathway was proposed. This work offers guidance for developing high-performance Fenton-like degradation catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials)
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17 pages, 2479 KB  
Article
Spectroscopic, Thermally Induced, and Theoretical Features of Neonicotinoids’ Competition for Adsorption Sites on Y Zeolite
by Bojana Nedić Vasiljević, Maja Milojević-Rakić, Maja Ranković, Anka Jevremović, Ljubiša Ignjatović, Nemanja Gavrilov, Snežana Uskoković-Marković, Aleksandra Janošević Ležaić, Hong Wang and Danica Bajuk-Bogdanović
Molecules 2025, 30(15), 3267; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30153267 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 643
Abstract
The competitive retention of pollutants in water tables determines their environmental fate and guides routes for their removal. To distinguish the fine differences in competitive binding at zeolite adsorption centers, a group of neonicotinoid pesticides is compared, relying on theoretical (energy of adsorption, [...] Read more.
The competitive retention of pollutants in water tables determines their environmental fate and guides routes for their removal. To distinguish the fine differences in competitive binding at zeolite adsorption centers, a group of neonicotinoid pesticides is compared, relying on theoretical (energy of adsorption, orientation, charge distribution) and experimental (spectroscopic and thermogravimetric) analyses for quick, inexpensive, and reliable screening. The MOPAC/QuantumEspresso platform was used for theoretical calculation, indicating close adsorption energy values for acetamiprid and imidacloprid (−2.2 eV), with thiamethoxam having a lower binding energy of −1.7 eV. FTIR analysis confirmed hydrogen bonding, among different dipole-dipole interactions, as the dominant adsorption mechanism. Due to their comparable binding energies, when the mixture of all three pesticides is examined, comparative adsorption capacities are evident at low concentrations, owing to the excellent adsorption performance of the FAU zeotype. At higher concentrations, competition for adsorption centers occurs, with the expected thiamethoxam binding being diminished due to the lower bonding energy. The catalytic impact of zeolite on the thermal degradation of pesticides is evidenced through TG analysis, confirming the adsorption capacities found by UV/VIS and HPLC/UV measurements. Detailed analysis of spectroscopic results in conjunction with theoretical calculation, thermal profiles, and UV detection offers a comprehensive understanding of neonicotinoids’ adsorption and can help with the design of future adsorbents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials)
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Review

Jump to: Research

37 pages, 13064 KB  
Review
Optimizing the Hydrophobic Environment of Zeolite-Based Catalysts for Promoted Application in Heterogeneous Catalysis
by Junling Zhan, Chi Zhang, Yu Zhang and Mingjun Jia
Molecules 2025, 30(18), 3670; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30183670 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 889
Abstract
Zeolites, especially aluminosilicate zeolites, have been widely applied in various important heterogeneous catalytic processes. The catalytic properties of zeolites are highly dependent on their topology structure, composition, porosity and surface chemistry. Recent research progress has demonstrated that increasing hydrophobicity of zeolite-based catalysts may [...] Read more.
Zeolites, especially aluminosilicate zeolites, have been widely applied in various important heterogeneous catalytic processes. The catalytic properties of zeolites are highly dependent on their topology structure, composition, porosity and surface chemistry. Recent research progress has demonstrated that increasing hydrophobicity of zeolite-based catalysts may play a positive role in enhancing their catalytic performance for some significant catalytic reactions. In this review, we mainly summarize the prominent advances in achieving catalytic performance enhancement by constructing appropriate hydrophobic zeolite-based catalysts. The main focus is on the regulation strategies and promoting mechanisms for optimizing the hydrophobic environment of zeolite-based catalysts. Through this text, we wish to provide some useful guidance on rationally improving the hydrophobicity of the zeolite-based catalysts for advanced applications in sustainable and green chemical processes, and on exploring the challenges that are faced and future directions in the related research fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Application of Zeolite Materials)
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