Nanoporous materials based on calixarene MOFs for adsorption applications

气体分子在多孔固体表面的吸附是化学工业中最重要的操作之一。最近，金属有机骨架(MOF)--一类新型的纳米多孔材料--被开发出来，并被证明具有令人兴奋的气体吸附性能。在这项联合提案中，我们打算研究杯芳烃(一系列含有空穴的分子)在MOF中的掺入。气体分子与骨架和杯芳烃空腔的潜在相互作用使这些材料成为气体储存和混合气体分离的有趣目标。该项目将被开发为在三个申请者之间转移专业知识的工具。因此，Burrow博士和Dren博士将跟随Bew博士学习有机合成技术，Bew博士和Dren博士将从Burrow博士那里学习MOF合成、结晶和表征，Bew博士和Burrow博士将从Dren博士那里获得气体吸附测量和分子建模方面的经验。这些新技能不仅对项目持续时间有价值，而且对申请者未来的职业生涯也有价值。它的目的是从这个学科跳跃奖开始的合作将是长期的，并导致化学-化学工程界面的重大发展。

The adsorption of gas molecules onto the surfaces of porous solids is one of the most important operations in the chemical industry. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) - a new class of nanoporous materials - have been developed, and these have been shown to have exciting gas adsorption properties. In this joint proposal, we intend to investigate the incorporation of calixarenes, a series of cavity-containing molecules, into MOFs. The potential interactions of gas molecules with both the framework and the calixarene cavities make these materials interesting targets for gas storage and for the separation of mixtures of gases. This project will be developed as a vehicle for transferring expertise between the three applicants. Thus Drs. Burrows and Dren will learn organic synthesis techniques with Dr. Bew, Drs. Bew and Dren will learn about MOF synthesis, crystallisation and characterisation from Dr. Burrows, and Drs. Bew and Burrows will gain experience of gas adsorption measurements and molecular modelling from Dr. Dren. These new skills will be valuable not just for the duration of the project, but also for the future careers of the applicants. It is intended that the collaboration that will start with this discipline hopping award will be long-term, and lead to significant developments at the chemistry-chemical engineering interface.