Issues in the synthesis of crystalline molecular sieves: Towards the crystallization of low framework-density structures

Fundamental and practical interest in crystalline, microporous, molecular sieves is largely a direct consequence of the fact that their bulk properties can be manipulated through variations in atomic structure. This correspondence between the macroscale and the atomic scale is due to the uniformity of these crystalline materials. Control of the atomic structure therefore is of extreme importance, and is the thesis of this Review. Synthesis mechanisms and the parameters that can direct the crystal assembly pathway and the ultimate product formed are discussed and rationalized.