Structure of Intercalated Cs in Zeolite ITQ-4: An Array of Metal Ions and Correlated Electrons Confined in a Pseudo-1D Nanoporous Host

The presence of Cs⁺ ions in the pseudo-1D nanopores of zeolite ITQ-4, Si₃₂O₆₄, is confirmed by x-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis. Inside the nanopores the Cs⁺ ions are found to assemble in zigzag chains and thus form an extended, positively charged sublattice providing charge balance for a low-density electron gas also confined to the nanopores.