The comprehension of silicate oligomer formation during
the initial
stage of zeolite synthesis is of significant importance. In this study,
we investigated the effect of chloride ions (Cl–) on silicate oligomerization using ab initio molecular
dynamics simulations with explicit water molecules. The results show
that the presence of Cl– increases the free energy
barriers of all reactions compared to the case without the anion.
The formation of the 4-ring structure has the lowest free energy barrier
(73 kJ/mol), while the formation of the 3-ring structure has the highest
barrier (98 kJ/mol) in the presence of Cl–. These
findings suggest that Cl– suppresses the formation
of 3-rings and favors the formation of larger oligomers in the process
of zeolite synthesis. Our study provides important insights into the
directing role of Cl– in silicate oligomerization
by regulating thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. An important point
to consider is the impact of the anion on aqueous reactions, particularly
in altering the hydrogen bond network around reactive species. These
results also provide a basis for further studies of the formations
of larger silicate oligomers in solution.