VINSE is excited to announce that Dr. Sheng Dai from Oak Ridge National Laboratory will give the keynote lecture “Nanoporous Liquids: Challenges and Opportunities for Energy-Related Applications” at the 24th annual Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Forum on November 22, 2024.
Dr. Sheng Dai is currently a corporate fellow and section head overseeing four research groups in the areas of separations and polymer chemistry at Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). His current research interests include ionic liquids, porous materials, and their applications for separation sciences and energy storage as well as catalysis by nanomaterials. He was named US DOE Distinguished Scientist Fellow for pioneering advances in development of functional materials in 2022. His research has led to the 2020 Max Bredig Award for Ionic Liquids and Molten Salts, the 2019 ACS Award in Separation Science and Technology, 2018 IMMA Award given by International Mesostructured Materials Association, Battelle Distinguished Inventor Award in 2016, and six R&D100 Awards. He is a Fellow of Material Research Society and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Abstract. Recently, we have developed a novel class of ionic liquids featuring intrinsic porosity, constructed from a fusion of nanoscopic and molecular building blocks. These nanoporous ionic liquids (PILs) present a new approach to separation and catalysis. The introduction of porosity into the ionic liquid matrix creates a highly selective and efficient liquidus medium for capturing and solubilizing gases, such as CO2, CH4, and H2. The tunable nature of these PILs allows for the design of specific pore sizes and functionalities, optimizing the interaction between the gas molecules and the liquid matrix. This results in enhanced selectivity and capacity for targeted gas separations. The unique combination of ionic liquid properties and tailored nanoporosity offers new possibilities for separation in carbon capture, hydrogen purification, and other critical gas separation and catalytic processes essential for advancing energy technologies. In this presentation, we will delve into the challenges and fundamental separation/catalysis sciences inherent in these nanoporous ionic liquids within energy-related contexts, highlighting their potential for separations and catalysis involving gaseous species.