FAST cell for the study of type-zero porous liquids (FASTzero)

Carbon capture and hydrogen storage are, globally, two of the most critical research and policy topics, due to their energetic and environmental importance. This drives the invention of materials which can meet these technical challenges in an economic way. Porous liquids (PLs) have emerged recently (ca.250/publications in the last 10 years), as ‘super solvents’ due to their high gas sorption capacities and gas separation capabilities. These derive from the presence of empty pores within the liquid phase. Critically, unlike porous solids, due to their fluidity they can be implemented in continuous flow processes. Currently, PL porosity derives from a “porogen”, which ranges from free discrete molecular cages up to porous colloidal particles, dissolved or dispersed in a liquid. Porogens include organic cages, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, and covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The pores remain empty because the molecules of the liquid carrier are size excluded from them. 

In this project we aim to explore known and new types of porous liquids, using a range of synthetic methods.

In addition to new materials, advances are needed in techniques to study such materials under appropriate conditions. Neutron scattering can provide key information on critical structural aspects of the liquid phase; however, current cell designs do not allow for:

i. fast equilibration with gases, 

ii. studying small amounts of samples 

iii. close control and measurement of temperature (a critical parameter for the control of phase transitions and gas uptake/release)

We will fulfil the need for this capability through the construction of a new cell (“FAST” cell) for neutron scattering, with the support of our project partner at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, a world-leading centre for research at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. This project also involves a collaboration with Dr Oana Istrate at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Dr Yueting Sun at the University of Birmingham. 

The goals of this project are to: 

1. develop a cell for neutron diffraction measurements, allowing faster gas-liquid equilibration, auto sampling with smaller samples and tight temperature control and measurement 

2. use the new cell to explore the gas uptake and structural properties of new and known PLs.

Supervisory team: Dr Leila Moura, Prof Stuart James and Dr Tristan Youngs (ISIS Neutron and Muon Source). Funding for this project is for 3 years and applicants should contact Dr Leila Moura ([email protected]) for any queries related to the project. 

Applications will only be considered if they are submitted via the QUB Direct Application portal https://myportal.qub.ac.uk/SignIn?ReturnUrl=%2Fpg-admission-application-list%2F