Synthesis of highly porous monolithic materials with well-defined multimodal pore radii distribution

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Nicola Hüsing
• Subject Area: Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering
• Term: from 2011 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 206084063

For many technical applications, e.g. separation science, heat insulation, as adsorbents, etc., porous materials play a vital role. The pore size distribution, tortuosity of the network and the surface properties of such a porous material influence to a large extent the interaction with organic substrates, solvent molecules, etc., as it is e.g. described for the undesirable crystallization of pharmaceutical drugs in porous media. In the last years, many novel synthetic approaches have been developed in the synthesis of porous materials, e.g. based on templating mechanisms, deliberate sintering processes, etc., but it nevertheless remains quite difficult to rationally design specific pore structures. Especially the simultaneous design of chemical composition, pore structure and macroscopic morphology for specific applications in a one-pot synthesis remains a difficult task. In the first two years of this project, silica monoliths with, i.e. trimodal pore size distribution, have been prepared via a combination of phase-separation strategies and high-internal phase emulsions. In addition, meso/macroporous alumina monoliths could be prepared starting from glycolated aluminum precursors. In the present project, these tasks will be further developed. Starting from deliberately designed precursor molecules (polyol-modified silanes, aluminum glycolate, etc.) and a combination of templating approaches (phase separation, high internal phase emulsions), it is planned to synthesize monolithic gels with a multimodal pore structure and variable chemical composition (SiO2, Al2O3 and MgO) in this project.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1570: Porous Media with Defined Porous Structure in Chemical Engineering - Modelling, Applications, Synthesis
• International Connection: Austria