Scott M. Auerbach, Neil J. Henson, Anthony K. Cheetham, and Horia I. Metiu, ``Transport theory for cationic zeolites: Diffusion of benzene in Na-Y,'' J. Phys. Chem. 99, 10600-10608 (1995).

Abstract

We have modelled benzene diffusion in Na-Y zeolite (Si:Al=2.0) over the temperature range 100-500 K. We apply the kinetic Monte Carlo random walk model, with activation energies derived from a new zeolite-hydrocarbon potential energy surface (PES). An Arrhenius fit yields the apparent activation energy Ea = 41 kJ mol-1 as compared with the previously determined experimental values 14-27 kJ mol-1. Minimum energy paths from the new PES demonstrate ``cartwheel'' and ``skateboard'' hopping mechanisms for benzene in Na-Y. Analysis of the results suggests that activation energies from long length scale diffusion measurements, e.g. pulsed field gradient NMR, should be interpreted as site-to-window activation energies; whereas those from short length scale experiments, e.g. spin lattice relaxation NMR, correspond to intracage site-to-site activation energies.

Prof SM Auerbach
18 June 2004