The synthesis, design and characterization of new porous liquids with analysis for the direct aim of industrial applications
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry and Chemical Eng
Abstract
The project is based in the area of inorganic chemistry with the use of metals (both transition metals and non-transition metals) with coordinating organic components to create a new type of liquid material known as a porous liquid. The porous liquid will be synthesized by various means including mechanochemically and via solution based methods. There will be an evaluation of each type of synthesis and potentially further investigation into the synthesis of porous liquids on a large/industrial scale.
Components used to make the porous liquid can vary and each will be analysed and their different properties recorded. The aim in creating this class of material is to successfully and easily synthesize the material while being cost effective and having a degree of variation to meet different specification.
Characterization will involve analytical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis to determine if the porous liquids that are synthesized are in accordance with similar data produced from various components.
The porous liquids will be subjected to Karl Fischer analysis to measure water uptake and will be analysed for their ability to absorb a range of different guests. This will determine their possible application in the industry.
The new material will be analysed for its capability to retain and desorb guests as well as regenerate porosity. Kinetic studies will also be carried out to determine how effective the liquid is at absorbing the different guests it will be subject too.
Further work will include the use of mechanochemistry to investigate more into porous liquids with the aim of increased stability and functionality. Functionalized porous liquids can be foreseen to have the properties of luminescence and 'flexibility'. With these functionalized porous liquids, many possible applications can be foreseen in industrial settings.
Components used to make the porous liquid can vary and each will be analysed and their different properties recorded. The aim in creating this class of material is to successfully and easily synthesize the material while being cost effective and having a degree of variation to meet different specification.
Characterization will involve analytical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis to determine if the porous liquids that are synthesized are in accordance with similar data produced from various components.
The porous liquids will be subjected to Karl Fischer analysis to measure water uptake and will be analysed for their ability to absorb a range of different guests. This will determine their possible application in the industry.
The new material will be analysed for its capability to retain and desorb guests as well as regenerate porosity. Kinetic studies will also be carried out to determine how effective the liquid is at absorbing the different guests it will be subject too.
Further work will include the use of mechanochemistry to investigate more into porous liquids with the aim of increased stability and functionality. Functionalized porous liquids can be foreseen to have the properties of luminescence and 'flexibility'. With these functionalized porous liquids, many possible applications can be foreseen in industrial settings.
Publications
Cahir J
(2020)
Type 3 porous liquids based on non-ionic liquid phases - a broad and tailorable platform of selective, fluid gas sorbents.
in Chemical science
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509541/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1786239 | Studentship | EP/N509541/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | John Cahir |
| Description | Compressible Liquids |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Several beamtime applications awarded |
| Collaborator Contribution | QUB provided the materials and personnel. STFC provided the expertise and equipment |
| Impact | Several beamtime awards and a publication in draft for a high impact journal. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Compressible Liquids |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Hub |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint work towards a high impact publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | QUB provided the materials and UoO provided the equipment for testing. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Investigating the porosity of porous liquids |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Bristol provided the knowledge and completed experiments on determining the porosity of the porous liquids synthesised in Belfast |
| Collaborator Contribution | QUB provided the materials and Bristol provided the expertise and equipment. |
| Impact | Publication in Chemical Science |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Investigating the properties of porous liquids |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | QUB provided the personnel and the material |
| Collaborator Contribution | Liverpool provided the testing equipment |
| Impact | Publication in Chemical Science |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | POROUS LIQUIDS |
| Description | The invention relates to dispersions of porous solids in liquids selected from deep eutectic solvents, liquid oligomers, bulky liquids, liquid polymers, silicone oils, halogenated oils, paraffin oils or triglyceride oils, as well as to their methods of preparation. In embodiments of the invention, the porous solids are metal organic framework materials (MOFs), zeolites, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), porous inorganic materials, Mobil Compositions of Matter (MCMs) or a porous carbon. The invention also relates to the use of porous materials to form dispersions, and to assemblages of such dispersions with a gas or gases. The dispersions can exhibit high gas capacities and selectivities. |
| IP Reference | WO2018206977 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Possibility to be licenced to other companies |
| Title | Porous liquids |
| Description | A dispersion comprising porous material, such as a zeolite, activated carbon or a metal organic framework material (MOF), dispersed in oil, such as silicone oils, halogenated oils, paraffin oils, triglyceride oils and combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a method of preparing the dispersions and their use in adsorbing gases, such as carbon dioxide. The dispersions exhibit high gas capacities and selectivity. |
| IP Reference | GB2562309 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Potential to be licenced. |
| Title | TYPE 3 POROUS LIQUIDS |
| Description | This invention relates to adispersion comprising porous particles dispersed in a liquid phase, wherein the porous particles comprise a zeolite and the liquid phase is a size-excluded liquid. The invention also relates to amethod of adsorbing agas into a liquid, comprising at least the step of bringing the gas into contact with the dispersion. In addition, the invention relates to an assemblage of thedispersion, the zeolitecomprising a cavity and a gas contained within the cavity. |
| IP Reference | WO2019215419 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Potential for licencing to gas separation companies |