Inorganic Crystals with Extra-large Pores

这个项目的重点是设计固态化学策略，以生产定制的多孔晶体。将发展新组合物的合成化学和主客体化学以促进多孔材料的研究，重点如下：(A)将孔隙率与半、光导和非线性光学性质相结合的框架，(B)超大孔(定义：直径：10-20A)框架的合成，这将有助于生物相关分子(药物)和大石油馏分的分离和催化转化，以及(C)具有特殊组成和静电势的受限分子空间，能够容纳活性分子络合物和簇的组装。由于这个项目的性质涉及溶液化学和固态化学，它为本科生和研究生提供了一个难得的机会，让他们在这两个领域体验并成为材料合成、表征和性能方面的专家。基于碳和氧化物组成的多孔材料在传感、气体分离、催化、环境净化(水净化和放射性离子去除)、纳米技术以及最近在氢和甲烷存储和运输中的广泛应用。例如，沸石硅酸盐和铝硅酸盐作为形状和尺寸选择性吸附剂、离子交换剂和催化剂的巨大重要性，反映在它们在全球经济中的3500亿美元部门。这项研究的跨学科性质非常适合在一些领域培养学生，这些领域对美国保持其在全球行业的领导地位的能力正变得越来越关键。

This project is focused on designing solid state chemical strategies that will produce tailor-made porous crystals. Synthetic and host-guest chemistry of new compositions will be developed to advance porous materials research with the following emphasis: (a) frameworks combining porosity with semi-, photo-conductive, and nonlinear optical properties, (b) synthesis of extra-large pore (defined: 10-20 A diameter) frameworks,which will be useful in the separation and catalytic conversion of bio-related molecules (pharmaceuticals) and large petrolewn fractions, and (c) confined molecular space of unusual composition and electrostatic potential capable of hosting the assembly of active molecular complexes and clusters. Because the nature of this project involves both solution chemistry and solid-state chemistry, it provides a rare opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to experience and become experts in the synthesis, characterization and properties of materials in both arenas. Porous materials based on carbon and oxide compositions have found wide-spread applications in sensing, gas separation, catalysis, environirnental cleanup (water purification and radioactive ion removal), nanotechnology, and more recently in hydrogen and methane storage and transport. For example, the enormous importance of zeolitic silicates and aluminosilicates as shape- and size-selective adsorbents, ion- exchangers and catalysts is reflected by their 350 billion US dollar sector of the global economy. The interdisciplinary nature of this research is ideally suited for training students in areas that are becoming increasingly critical to the US ability to maintain its leadership in global industries.