(3ac) Engineering Inorganic–Organic Porous Nanohybrids for Energy and Environment-Related Gases Storage and Separation

The main focus of my research is to develop novel nanoporous materials, that is, zeolites, siloxane-based materials, metal–organic frameworks, and porous inorganic–organic polymers, for solving energy and environment-related problems and for improving chemical processes as well.  In particular, I have been integrating synthetic chemistry (both inorganic and organic methods) and structural chemistry with the aids of characterization techniques and computer modeling to engineer such nanoporous materials.  Gas adsorption/storage, membrane separation, chiral adsorptive separation, and heterogeneous catalysis are the targeted uses of the developed materials.

In my PhD work at The University of Tokyo, I developed the novel synthetic route leading to designed inorganic–organic framework materials from the strategic molecular building units [1,2].  Considering secondary building units existing in zeolite frameworks, the cubic double four-ring (D4R) siloxane cage was selected as a starting precursor.  Utilization of intermolecular interaction ranging from weak interactions, i.e., hydrogen bond, π–π stacking, and van der Waals force, through coordination bond, to strong carbon–carbon covalent bond, siloxane-based inorganic–organic hybrid materials were synthesized with partially targeted manners.  By combination of structural, synthetic organic, and materials chemistry, a series of porous poly(organosiloxane) networks with controlled over molecular homogeneity in a certain degree was achieved; they possessed narrow pore size distribution and high surface area.  This synthetic strategy can expand to synthesize other porous hybrid materials.

My postdoctoral research has involved the development of porous inorganic–organic hybrids containing active amine moieties as a robust and effective adsorbent for CO₂ capture from moderately dilute gas streams such as flue gas and ultra-dilute concentrations such as ambient air.  This includes engineering of amine-based adsorbents that are stable upon steam exposure, development of novel synthetic route to introduce active amines into structural objects such as supported membranes and monoliths, and preparation of a novel class of active adsorbents.

Postdoctoral Advisor: Professor Christopher W. Jones, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.

Doctoral Thesis Advisor: Professor Tatsuya Okubo, Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

References

[1] W. Chaikittisilp,A. Sugawara, A. Shimojima, T. Okubo, Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 6006-6014.

[2] W. Chaikittisilp,A. Sugawara, A. Shimojima, T. Okubo, Chem. Mater. 2010, 22, 4841-4843.