Gas transport in functionalized mesopores: structure-activity relationships

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Kurosch Rezwan; Professor Dr.-Ing. Jorg Thöming
• Subject Area: Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 394204800

Fundamental understanding of the mechanisms and interactions between surface functionality of porous material and gas phase is crucial for the progress in fields such as membrane science or gas chromatography. Effects of surface functionalizations have been fundamentally studied for micropores (< 2 nm), but little is known about the mechanisms of their influence on the gas flow in larger pores, when surface diffusion is neglected. Recent studies show that even in mesopores of 20 nm and above surface functionalizations may have a significant influence on selective gas transport. However no attempt has been made so far to systematically quantify structure-activity relationships with respect to gas transport. The aim of this research project is to provide an experimental data basis and, based on this, to establish quantitative structure-transport relationships in case of gas flow in mesopores. By this means we intend to gain profound knowledge about the influence of surface functionalizations on the gas transport mechanisms in mesopores.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants