Tailored for Carbon Capture: Design and Synthesis of a Hollow Molecular Solid

Science Center A255

Research on the separation and storage of gases has numerous environmental applications. From the use of alternative fuels to the reduction of greenhouse gas emission, designing porous materials that can selectively capture gases is essential. Our research group recently established the microporosity of 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (tcpb), a molecular solid that has high surface area and gas storage capacity for materials of its kind. We are interested in tailoring the new materials for the selective capture and storage of carbon dioxide. Such materials have the potential to be installed at emission sources, such as coal-burning power plants, to mitigate carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere due to human activities.