Solid State Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), including its synthesis and characterization, are among the rapidly growing and developing areas of inorganic chemistry. Porous MOF materials are highly crystalline organic-inorganic composite complexes, which may be comprised of a secondary building unit (SBU) by metal ions or metal-containing clusters, assembled with a multitude of organic ligands by coordination. These porous materials undoubtedly have many practical applications with enormous potential including traditional applications such as gas storage, separation, and catalysis, which are mainly due to the size and shape of their pores. In addition, porous materials are now being employed for biomedical applications such as sensors, which are now frontiers in further academic researches. Our laboratory research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of porous MOFs, and further testing during gas storage or separation, catalysis, green recycling for carbon dioxide, energy conversion, and other related applications. In the study of these novel solid compounds, graduate students will be able to learn a variety of material analysis methods, such as single crystal X-ray diffraction, and powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, gas adsorption, solid-state infrared optical / ultraviolet spectrometer, fluorescence spectrometer, superconducting quantum interference device, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning/transmission electron microscope, and many more.
1. Synthesis and Structure Identification of MOFs
Synthesis and design of new types of MOFs - quite an interesting research direction in coordination polymers where the main objective is to develop a highly porous, thermally stable, and reusable material. MOFs that can be easily converted, modified, then reused is one of the goals in designing novel microporous and mesoporous materials. Such MOFs are economical and environmentally friendly, and may be used for gas separation and hydrogen adsorption owing to the fact that the materials are comprised of exhibiting very high porosity giving considerable development potential. Other possible applications of MOFs include toxic gas purification and separation, catalysis, drug delivery, proton conductivity, and the like.
2. MOFs for Selective Adsorption, Gas Separation, and Storage (CO2 capture, H2 and CH4 storage)
Adsorptive separation in the industrial setting is very important. Generally, this process uses a porous solid material, such as zeolite, activated carbon, or silica gel as the adsorbent. The demand for efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly materials for gas separation is increasing. The development of new materials for this application is required to be tailor-fitted to the type of gas being separated. With the high surface area and tunable pore sizes of MOFs, it can serve for this function and also be modified to enhance its other characteristics, as well as its thermal stability so it may be used at higher working temperatures. MOFs are promising candidate materials for adsorption, membrane separation, and filtration materials.
3. MOFs for Functional Application such as Enzyme Immobilization
MOFs may act as platforms for functional application when formed as composites with other materials. In some recent studies, we demonstrated several new functional applications of MOFs (especially the Al-MOFs) with trypsin-immobilized metal–organic framework as a biocatalyst in proteomics analysis. The use of MOFs as support is a versatile tool for the stabilization and reusability of immobilized enzymes for functional applications. The pore size, morphology, and the surface of MOFs can be efficiently modified to different proteins. After detailed investigations of systematic studies of protein immobilized into MOF materials, it revealed that MOFs may indeed enhance the activity, stability, and reusability of the enzymes. However, the application of designed MOFs in biocatalysis is still in the early stages of development.
