Synthesis of Polycrystalline Zeolite Films and Thermal Conductivity Measurements by a 3-Omega Method

Zeolites (nanoporous crystalline aluminosilicates) have important applications in catalysis and separations [1,2], and are also being considered for adsorption-based heating and cooling systems [3]. We are investigating the use of zeolite films in the fabrication of more efficient adsorption heat pumping and refrigeration systems that use water vapor as the working fluid. The thermal conductivity of the adsorbent is an important property affecting heat transfer in an adsorption heat pumping system. There are few reports (e.g. [4]) of the thermal conductivity of zeolites, which is measured by compacting the zeolite powder into a disk sample and using a model to extract the ‘intrinsic’ thermal properties. Another approach [5] relies on molecular dynamics simulation using parameterized force fields to predict the intrinsic thermal conductivity.