I-Corps: Porous Metal-Organic Framework Materials for Industrial Gas Storage and Separation

气体是大量化学转化/生产的重要原料，是工业企业和日常生活的常规能源。由于它们的独特状态，在日常使用中需要特殊的搬运和运输。通常在高压下的气瓶对于气体储存是必不可少的。虽然气体在高压下被压缩到气瓶中，但这种传统方法的储气量通常不高。此外，高压也可能有一些安全问题。具有较高储气能力的材料不仅可以增加固定钢瓶空间内的储气量，还可以降低储气的储存压力，从而提高安全性。本项目探索多孔金属有机框架（MOF）材料用于工业气体储存和分离的市场潜力，特别是甲烷和乙炔的储存，以及乙炔/乙烯的分离。通过为未来汽车实施大容量储存天然气和乙炔的新材料，减少了美国对汽油能源的严重依赖，减少了高碳碳氢化合物燃烧产生的二氧化碳排放对环境的副作用。多孔MOF材料是一种非常有前途的吸附剂，可以充入气瓶中，显著提高储气能力。多孔mof内的可调孔和功能位点也使这些多孔材料在气体分离中非常有用。该团队将在为期7周的I-Corps项目中进行客户发现，以评估工业客户在气体储存和分离方面的实际需求，以及目标市场规模。在完成I-Corps课程后，该团队将决定是否建立一家初创公司，并通过SBIR和/或STTR资金继续其商业化努力。

Gases are important raw materials for a large number of chemical transformations/productions, and are used as routine energy resources for both industrial enterprise and our diary life. Because of their unique state, special handling and transportation are necessary for their routine usage. Gas cylinders, typically under high pressures, are essential for gas storage. Although the gases are compressed under high pressure into the gas cylinders, the gas storage capacity by such traditional methods are typically not high. Furthermore, the high pressure might also have some safety concerns. Materials with higher gas storage capabilities can not only increase the gas storage amount within fixed cylinder spaces, but also reduce the storage pressure for gas storage and, thus, improve safety concerns. This project explores the market potential of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials for industrial gas storage and separation, particularly methane and acetylene storage, and separation of acetylene/ethylene. Through the implementation of new materials for the high capacity storage of natural gas and acetylene for the future vehicles, it reduces the United States' heavy dependence on the gasoline energy resource and diminishes the environmental side effect of carbon dioxide emission from the combustion of high carbon hydrocarbons.Porous MOF materials are very promising adsorbents which can be filled into gas cylinders to significantly enhance the gas storage capacities. The tunable pores and functional sites within porous MOFs have also enabled these porous materials to be very useful for gas separations. This team will conduct customer discovery during the 7-week I-Corps program to assess the industrial customers' real needs in terms of gas storage and separation, and the target market size. Following completion of the I-Corps curriculum, the team will decide whether or not to establish a start-up company and to continue its commercialization efforts through SBIR and/or STTR funding.