Molecular engineering of functional condensed matter-zeolite as a showcase

The concept of condensed matter chemistry is proposed in light of the reactants and reaction media of chemical reactions are molecules or ions in specific condensed matter states rather than individual molecules or ions as traditionally defined and the key determinants of a reaction in terms of its occurrence, the mechanism, and the result are the properties, the components, and the multilayer organization of the reactants and reaction media in their specific condensed matter states. In this chapter, the types, forms, and creation approaches of matter are briefly presented. Taking zeolites, a class of microporous inorganic crystalline materials in which specific molecules can be selectively adsorbed and catalytically transformed, as an example, the condensed matter chemistry is further illustrated by discussing their synthesis (gel chemistry, structure-directing effect, etc.), structure (topology, hierarchy, defects, intergrowth, morphology, modification, etc.), and properties (catalysis, adsorption/separation, ion-exchange, etc.). The evolution from molecular engineering to condensed matter engineering of functional materials (i.e., molecular engineering of functional condensed matter) is presented by taking the molecular engineering of zeolitic materials as a showcase.