High-capacity Porous materials for Gas Storage & Molecular Separations
Applications centered on gas storage and molecular separations in porous materials could significantly advance global sustainability goals. Currently, small molecule feedstock chemicals are industrially purified through highly energy-intensive thermal distillations. Porous adsorbent and membrane technologies offer promising alternatives to separate gaseous mixtures under milder conditions, with the potential for significant energy and cost savings. Similarly, in the context of gas storage, molecular hydrogen (H2) has the potential to act as an ideal carbon neutral energy transfer medium. While traditional methodologies rely on intense physical methods to overcome the low volumetric capacity of H2, porous materials have the potential to store hydrogen under mild conditions. Nevertheless, limited working capacities in porous materials directly impacts their performance in gas storage and molecular separation-based applications. To achieve high-capacities, we are developing novel materials through unique bottom-up approaches to material design. We aim to create materials with the potential for more sustainable and cost-effective gas storage and molecular separation-based technologies.
Redox Flow Batteries For Large-Scale Energy Storage
Anthropogenic CO2 emissions are the leading cause of global warming, the most substantial crisis facing civilization. This pressing concern demands the development of renewable and environmentally compatible energy sources. As renewable energy conversion technologies continue to advance in performance, efficiency, and accessibility, they are slated to comprise a more substantial market share. However, a major hurdle associated with use of renewable energy sources is their intermittent nature. Temporal deviations in energy production and consumption necessitate an energy storage solution. Redox flow batteries decouple power from capacity and are, therefore, poised to enable effective stationary energy storage (e.g., grid-scale, data centers, and hospitals). We are interested in developing stable redox flow batteries comprised of earth abundant elements with enhanced cyclability.
Sustainability Focused Synthetic Transformations
The valorization of organic feedstock chemicals through the development of green synthetic transformations is of growing consequence to human health and global sustainability. We are interested in creating new earth abundant low-valent main-group species as reactive catalysts and as ligands for cluster stabilization. We aim to advance a range of applications that include small-molecule activation, organic methodologies, and catalysis.