Research

Porous materials, such as zeolites and metal–organic frameworks, are renowned for their ability to separate and store gases in a process known as adsorption. However, the widespread implementation of adsorption-based processes to address environmental concerns is hindered by a sensitivity to water vapor, which can cause structural degradation or decrease adsorption capacity and selectivity. We seek to tune pore environments and generate humidity-resistant materials by using hydrophobic guest ions. We hope to bring adsorption processes closer to real-world conditions and to contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors that drive hydrophobicity in porous materials.

Due to the severe spatial restriction of a nanoscale pore, liquids confined within porous materials exhibit drastic differences in properties such as melting point and diffusion constant compared to bulk liquids. Our group is exploring the interplay between pore environment and gas solubility for liquids confined within a variety of porous materials. We hope to improve the understanding of the complex triphasic interactions between gases, liquids, and porous materials. Our materials could also serve as model systems for how gases interact with confined liquids in catalysis, geology, and biology.