Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2020
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.04.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
|
| 2.04.01 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
Inorganic nonmetallic materials |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P003 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.04 |
Natural Sciences |
Chemical sciences |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
Nanoporous materials, microporous, mesoporous, heterogeneous catalysts, photocatalysts, adsorbents, kompozite, AOP, water and air purification, biomass conversion, heat storage, CO2 capture and conversion, solid state NMR, PDF analysis, NMR Crystallography, computational approaches;
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 27, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
431 |
11,458 |
10,567 |
24.52 |
| Scopus |
428 |
12,238 |
11,310 |
26.43 |
Researchers (23)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0104 |
National Institute of Chemistry |
Ljubljana |
5051592000 |
21,007 |
Abstract
Research work in the scope of the program will encompass the development of advanced nanoporous adsorbents and catalysts for energy and environmental applications. The materials to be studied are microporous silicates, aluminosilicates and aluminophosphates, metal-organic framework materials (MOFs), mesostructural silicates/aluminates, and their analogues modified with transition metals and metal oxides. Depending on the target application, we will explore innovative approaches in material shaping into suitable macrostructural forms such as thin layers, membranes and monoliths, where the porous material is an active component or a carrier. Special emphasis will be placed on the preparation of materials according to the principles of green synthesis by synthesis at lower temperatures and pressures, and without organic structure directing agents. The preparation of new materials with the desired properties will be supported by detailed structural characterization. Structural studies will cover the basic and in-depth characterization of the prepared materials. Special attention will be given to the study of defects in crystals and the impact of these on the catalytic activity of materials. We will develop and implement experimental and computational techniques that will enable us to study in detail the structure and operation of materials and understand the relationship between the structure and the functionality of materials. New methods will enable the study of non-homogeneous crystalline materials, the study of defects in them, the identification of catalytic and adsorption sites, the estimation of the intensity of interactions between molecules and the framework of porous materials and the study of molecular dynamics in pores, including in-situ and operando approaches. Synthesis of materials that will be of interest at the laboratory level or will meet the required criteria for use, will be transfered to the semi-industrial level in cooperation with industrial partners. The proposed research will enable the development of affordable and stable materials for use in advanced processes such as photocatalytic and oxidation (AOP) methods for water and air purification, biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals, heat storage and transformation, as well as selective CO2 capture and conversion. The atate-of-the-art research equipment and knowledge will represent an excellent environment for the education of doctoral students. A part of the proposed research is the continuation of the optimization of the systems that we successfully developed in the past, and the part is based on new concepts of synthesis and characterization. The feasibility of the proposed research provides numerous experience and international recognition of the members of the program group in the field of nanoporous materials, as well as experience in the management of domestic and international projects. Also, the proposed program group has a critical mass of researchers, which ensures the successful implementation of planned research in the foreseen period of time.
Significance for science
Research on nanoporous materials for their use in catalysis and adsorption is one of the most important traditional and actual fields of material research. With isolated and stable active sites, nanoporous materials work similarly to enzymes and are extremely selective and allow the preparation of specific molecular products in the processes of catalytic cracking, isomerization, etc. Microporous catalysts are used in a range of selective oxidations and reductions in environmentally friendly conditions and with the possibility of easy regeneration and reuse, which is a great advantage over homogeneous liquid catalysts, such as, for example, inorganic acids. Crystalline microporous adsorbents on the other hand make it possible to separate gas molecules with an accuracy of up to 0.01 nm, which is not possible with other porous materials. In recent years, there is an intensive research of nanoporous materials as supports for uniform distribution and stabilization of active components in batteries, oxide catalysts, biologically active substances, etc. For each targeted application, a differently optimized material is required, and consequently an excellent knowledge of the synthesis of materials and their post-synthetic modifications. Also recently, the importance of structural studies and studies of structure-property-function of nanomaterials has been emphasised, as this is the basis for targeted optimization of the material. Particularly interesting are studies of defects in crystals and the influence of these on the operation of materials.
The objectives of the program group will continue to significantly influence further development of science in the field of preparation, characterization and use of nanoporous materials. The goals in the preparation of new materials, which include the princliples of green synthesis and the innovative approaches of materials shaping to achieve the stability of materials, preventing their deactivation and optimizing mass and heat transfer for their efficient operation, are extremely topical on a global scale. For example, in the past, with the active work of the program group in the field of the development of materials for the sorption heat storage, we have helped to open up a new thematic field of research with great potential and which will be developed further in the next program period. Also very important will be our contribution to the development of the field of new nanoporous materials for effective capture and possible conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels and usable chemicals as the current CO2 capture technology with chemisorption into liquid amines is very expensive due to energy-demanding sorbent regeneration. The realization of the objectives of the program in the field of porous catalysts and photocatalysts, which involve the development of metals and metal oxides of modified silicates and aluminates that can operate under milder conditions and/or with visible light, will enable better understanding and design of their complex heterogeneous structures. Also, with the objectives of advanced structural characterization of nanoporous materials and their composites, we will greatly exceed the current knowledge in the world in this field. A major challenge is study of structural changes of materials at work, i.e. their spatial and temporal characterisation, which requires development of new methods and techniques that we have proposed as one of the objectives of the program group.
We expect that new knowledge gained in the scope of the program will be useful also in other fields of materials research, both in synthesis work and in the use and development of advanced characterization methods and techniques.
Significance for the country
The proposed research within the program group extends to the fields of energy and ecology. For example, efficient heat storage/transformation becomes one of primary research guidelines on a global scale, since it is crucial for a wider use of solar thermal and waste heat in buildings and in industry. In developed countries heating and cooling represents half of the final energy demands. New possibilities for the use in automotive industry, in the production of household appliances and in the insulation materials industry are also opening up. In all of these areas of application, we already have contacts with industrial partners, both domestic and foreign. From the point of view of preserving the clean environment, proposed research on materials for CO2 capture and conversion, for water and air purification, and for biomass conversion are all crucial. The reduction of CO2 emissions, especially in CO2-intensive industries such as the cement and steel industry, and thermal power plants, is a very global issue and is inextricably linked to the prevention of global warming. The presence of organic pollutants in wastewater is also becoming a problem of global dimensions that could be successfully solved by effective and sustainable AOP nanoporous catalysts for decomposition of toxic organic pollutants, the development of which was proposed within the program. It is also necessary to further improve the quality of biomass conversion into fuels and chemicals with heterogeneous catalytic processes, as the current processes are often economically uncompetitive and/or unsustainable. Due to the listed and new possibilities of using nanoporous materials, the production and global market of nanoporous materials is steadily rising (Market.biz, 2019), both in Europe, North America, and more recently in Asia, reflecting the emerging problems are in the energy sector and clean environment.
Within the program, we will address specific above-mentioned challenges with basic materials research, which will be developed in cooperation with interested industrial partners in applied products and technological solutions. With in-depth knowledge of materials and an understanding of the processes in which they participate, we will be able to transfer it to industry professionals and propose new products and technological solutions. Existing and planned applied research will be carried out with national and foreign industrial partners, both in the field of materials production and their use. In the field of transfer of synthesis from laboratory scale to semi-industrial and industrial scale, especially in the field of adsorbents we will mostly address our long-term partner, a producer of zeolites. In the field of development and use of porous catalysts, we plan to continue cooperation with companies from Finland and Germany, in optimizing the processes of biomass conversion into usable fuels and chemicals. In the future, we are also planning to address other interested partners, also through the office for knowledge transfer at NIC and through participation in international projects. With this kind of cooperation, we can contribute to improving the competitiveness of participating companies with innovative products and technological solutions on the domestic and foreign markets.
With the proposed innovative approaches to the synthesis of nanoporous materials and monitoring their operation with advanced characterization techniques, we will significantly contribute to the reputation of Slovenian science in the world. New materials and possible new technologies in selected areas will continue to be successfully promoted in the European scientific and professional public through invited lectures, invited publications in high-ranking professional and scientific journals, active membership in professional associations, activities in European Infrastructure Networks, the organization of international scientific and professional meetings at the National Institute
