Nano-sized ZnO crystals were successfully incorporated using an ion exchange method in TMA-A zeolite synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The optimal composition for the synthesis of TMA-A zeolite resulted from a solution of Al(i-pro)3 : 2.2 TEOS : 2.4 TMAOH : 0.3 NaOH : 200 H2O. 0.3 g of TMA-A zeolite and a 5 mol of ZnCl2 solution was employed for the preparation of ZnO incorporated TMA-A zeolite. The crystallization process and bonding structures of ZnO incorporated TMA-A zeolites were analyzed by XRD and FT-IR. The morphology and the particle size dependence on the temperature and time were observed using a particle size analyzer and SEM. The nano-sized ZnO crystals incorporated and the crystallinity of the TMA-A zeolite were evaluated by HRTEM. Subsequently, the ZnO incorporated TMA-A zeolite showed photoluminescent characteristics in the wavelengths of 330-260 nm and 260-230 nm using a UV spectrophotometer.
Keywords: TMA-A zeolite, ZnO, Nano size, Incorporation.