Structural Characterization of Nanoporous Materials by Solid-state NMR and Vibrational Spectroscopy

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Nanoporous materials including microporous materials and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have many industrial and technological applications in catalysis, separation, sensors, fuel cells, and solid-state devices. Emerging uses lie in the areas of medical drug delivery systems, agricultural and environmental applications. Nanoporous materials characterization is extremely important because a detailed understanding the relationship between the key properties of these materials and their unique structures is crucial for developing new applications and/or improving their performance for their current uses. Our research will focus on the following areas: [1] There is a large industrial interest in microporous materials (also known as molecular sieves). However, since the nucleation and growth of these materials are not completely understood at the molecular level, a rational design of novel frameworks with desired properties is still difficult. We will use our expertise in solid-state NMR and vibrational spectroscopy to carefully study the formation mechanisms of microporous materials. The information obtained from such experiments will enhance our ability to rationally design novel materials with desired properties for specific applications. [2] MOFs are a class of new nanoporous materials with promising properties for hydrogen adsorption, carbon dioxide storage and catalysis. We will develop solid-state NMR spectroscopy as a characterization tool for probing their metal environments. We anticipate that the research will provide structural knowledge that will allow us to subtly control and tailor these metal center environments for specific applications. [3] We will explore the possibility of using high external pressure to fine tune MOF properties. The objective here is to tailor the materials to serve as size- and shape-selective adsorbents suitable for separation. [4] We will develop syntheses of porous metal chalcogenide semiconductors under solvothermal conditions for the expressed purpose of preparing novel porous semiconducting materials that can be potentially used for shape-selective photocatalysis and solar energy conversion.