Orientation and patterning of zeolite micro-crystals on photorefractive templates

Evanescent fields photo-generated on the surface of photorefractive Fe-doped LiNbO3 templates have been used to trap and align anisotropic zeolite micro-cylinders. x- and z-cut crystal configurations have been employed to obtain different 1D and 2D zeolite micro-patterns. Inside of the patterns, a substructure of zeolites aligned along the electric field, either parallel or perpendicular to the surface, have been obtained. The experiments have been analyzed to the light of a theoretical analysis that satisfactorily explains the main experimental features.