MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of Dynamic Mixed Gas Sorption Analyzer-Mass Spectrometer to Enable Advanced Separation, Sensing, and Catalysis Research

Accurate measurement of the magnitude and dynamics of gas/vapor sorption on nanoporous materials under diverse operating conditions is an essential step in evaluating the performance of new materials used in various separation, sensing, catalytic or purification applications. With renewed focus on the importance of understanding materials behaviors under complex environments, the researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) to acquire instrumentation that enables multicomponent gas/vapor sorption over nanoporous materials. The acquired system will be used to bridge fundamental knowledge gaps relevant to energy-intensive separations, gas/bio-aerosol sensing, size-selective catalysis, and carbon capture/utilization. This Major Research Instrumentation award is to acquire a dynamic mixed gas/vapor sorption analyzer, integrated with a dynamic sampling mass spectrometer (VGS-DSMS) plus an automated breakthrough reactor (ABR), called VGS-DSMS-ABR suite. The suite – owing to its ability to perform binary and combined equilibrium-dynamic characterization of nanoporous materials of various types – will advance research in many areas relevant to design of new materials and performance-optimization of existing materials used as sorbents, sensors, or catalysts in energy and environmental processes by providing a comprehensive means of assessing sorption characteristics and establishing property-performance correlations for nanoporous materials. The proposed VGS-DSMS-ABR suite will not only bolster current-and-future research projects geared towards design and performance-optimization of materials, but also support several education, training, and outreach activities at Missouri S&T and 10 partner institutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.