Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

This NSERC RTI application is for a Porosity Analyzer an instrument capable of carrying out analytical measurements for the determination of surface area and pore size distribution (3.5 to 5000 ) in porous materials by physical adsorption. The fundamental data provided by this instrumentation is essential for the full characterization of ALL types of porous material zeolite, metal-organic framework, covalent-organic framework, supramolecular-organic framework, porous polymeric network or porous carbon material.******The Porosity Analyzer will be a fully automated, high throughput analyzer capable of producing high definition analytical measurements for the determination of specific surface area and pore size distribution from 3.5 to 5000 Angstroms by physical adsorption. It is configured with two port for micropore (physisorption) analysis and one port for mesopore analysis and can operate using a variety of analysis gases including N2, O2, Ar, Kr, CO2, CO, H2, butane, other non-corrosive gases or volatile liquids and water. The important features of the system allow for measurements on both standard mesoporous and microporous materials by physisorption and includes the use of krypton for low surface area materials. The instrument is pneumatically actuated and utilizes hard seal valves that provide ultra-clean, leak-proof operation as well as stainless steel gas inlets, VCR fittings, and an analysis manifold. The vacuum system consists of a turbo molecular pump in series with four single-stage diaphragm pumps. The cryogen level on each sample tube is controlled by the use of a passive isothermal jacket. Appropriate software for data analysis and a user-defined reporting system are included along with advanced instrument diagnostics which continuously monitors critical system components for performance and maintenance scheduling. BrunauerEmmettTeller (BET) theory explains the physical adsorption of gas molecules on a solid surface and serves as the basis for the measurement of the specific surface area of materials. Measurement of the BET pore surface area and determination of pore sizes are absolutely fundamental for the full characterization of any new porous material.******A porosity analysis is essential for the full characterization of ANY NEW porous material or ANY material that has been subjected to an external perturbation (chemical, physical) that might disrupt its structure whether it be crystalline, amorphous, polymeric or liquid crystalline. This is akin to the fundamental data melting point or elemental analysis required for the characterization of a (new) molecular species.