Structural Studies of Metal Organic Frameworks for Adsorption and Separation Applications Adsorption of molecules in functionalized and high surface area microporous materials is of technological importance in a multitude of areas ranging from chemical separations to energy storage. Over the past several years we have focused our research efforts on understanding the properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites for storage and separations of industrially important small molecules such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, noble gases, and short chain organics. Besides the geometrical and porosity control in either class of materials, the properties of metal-organic frameworks can be tuned to optimize electrostatic interactions by exposing open metal cation sites. Here, I will briefly illustrate some of the capabilities available at the NIST Center for Neutron Research and reflect on some of the characteristics of neutrons that make them suitable for the study of a wide variety of materials. An in-depth look at results obtained on MOFs illustrate the power, and limitations, of diffraction in elucidating many of the governing characteristics of these material properties and the interactions with the guest molecules. About the speaker Craig Brown is a Chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Center for Neutron Research where heads the Structure and Dynamics of Material team and is an Adjunct faculty in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Delaware. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, U.K., he spent most of his time as a graduate researcher in Grenoble, France. Here he used neutron at the Institut Laue-Langevin, X-rays at the ESRF synchrotron, and muons at the Paul Scherrer Institute to study the structure, magnetism, superconductivity, dynamics, and diffusive behavior of intercalated Fullerenes. His research interests have continued with the use of X-ray and neutron scattering to study the structure and dynamics of a wide array of materials from proteins to highly porous metal-organic frameworks. This has led to him being widely published with over 140 papers and over 6000 citations and a H-index of 40. He has received several awards including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the Department of Commerce Silver Medal, and most recently NISTs Stratton Award for unusually significant research contributions. Molecular Engineering and Sciences Seminar Series This weekly seminar brings together students, faculty and invited guests from various disciplines across campus to explore current trends in molecular engineering and nanotechnology. It is a forum for active interdisciplinary discussions. These talks are open to the public and attract a diverse audience of students and faculty. |