Nanoporous zeolites are well-known materials with huge industrial and commercial application in important areas yet their crystallisation mechanism remains under great debate. In situ measurements are important to develop to monitor crystallisation and these must necessarily be non-invasive and be made under real reaction conditions. Since most nanoporous materials crystallise under hydrothermal condition and in the case of silicate often involve a precursor gel phase, the study of the crystallisation in the presence of reactive liquid is required. We have been testing the use of total scattering to achieve this goal and based on our preliminary results wish to extend this work to examine the evolution of gel structure into crystalline material. This will complement our work on the preparation of new functional materials.