Materials Based on Yttrium, Lanthanides, and Actinides
Our work draws inspiration from biological systems to develop innovative solutions for capturing and utilizing critical materials, metals, and minerals directly from water. We've developed a novel pumping mechanism for the active adsorption of ions, leading to the discovery of an entirely new adsorption method called active mechanisorption. This breakthrough offers a platform for non-equilibrium physical chemistry at surfaces, enabling potential water remediation and the extraction of critical minerals from low- to high-concentration regions. We also explore the applications of porous materials based on critical metals such as Yttrium, lanthanides, actinides, Titanium, and Zirconium in cooperative or switchable adsorption and their potential for applications such as water adsorption, carbon capture, and gas storage.
Active Adsorption of Metal Ions Far-Away-From-Equilibrium
Our research has recently led to a groundbreaking discovery: mechanisorption, the first fundamentally new mode of adsorption since the observations of physisorption and chemisorption in the 1930s. Read more about it here. By building upon this newly discovered mode of mechanisorption, we aim to broaden its applications. We are focusing on utilizing this unique mechanism to enable water remediation and extraction of critical minerals from low- to high-concentration regions. Our innovative approach centers on developing electrochemical tools to create hierarchical sorbents and membranes, facilitating active and repetitive ion pumping using renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen Production and Storage
The shift towards a hydrogen-based economy brings with it numerous challenges in material development that must be addressed to render it both practical and economically sound. A primary obstacle is the design of hydrogen storage materials that boast high storage density (both gravimetric and volumetric), maintain appropriate equilibrium pressure, exhibit favorable reaction speeds, ensure relative safety, and are cost-effective. Our past research indicates that porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are promising materials for this purpose. We are working on developing porous materials that could potentially meet all the requirements for practical, reversible on-board storage.