Organization of Cooperating Aluminum Pairs in Ferrierite Evidenced by Luminescence Quenching

[Image: see text] We show that four cooperating Al atoms located at the two neighboring six-membered (6-MR) rings in the ferrierite framework can be readily discerned by luminescence studies. Thus, luminescent Zn(II) cations accommodated by one aluminum pair of the 6-MR ring can be effectively quenched by neighboring Co(II) ions stabilized by the second ring. Quenching occurs via the energy transfer mechanism and allows estimation of the critical radius of Zn(II)–Co(II) interactions. This points to the appropriate geometry and distance of the transition metal ions accommodated within zeolite, providing direct evidence of the four-aluminum atom arrangement in the ferrierite framework.