Insights into the Chemistry of Organic Structure-Directing Agents in the Synthesis of Zeolitic Materials

Luis Gómez-Hortigüela is a researcher at the Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica-CSIC. His research focuses on the development of advanced zeolitic nanoporous materials with improved catalytic properties through the use of rationally-designed organic molecules as structure-directing agents. This research combines the use of molecular-mechanics and quantum mechanics simulation techniques with the actual synthesis and advanced characterization of zeolitic materials in an attempt to reach a molecular-level knowledge of the phenomena taking place during the structure-direction of these materials.

Specific research focuses on the use of self-assembling aromatic amines/ammonium compounds as organic structure-directing agents in order to produce large-pore nanoporous materials by applying concepts of supramolecular chemistry. Moreover, the use of self-assembling chiral compounds as structure-directing agents in an attempt to induce a chiral supramolecular ordering thatcould be transferred into a potential chiral zeolite framework, thus leading to enantioselective adsorbents and/or catalysts. In addition, Dr Gómez-Hortigüela's research also looks at attempting to control the location of active sites in zeolite frameworks by the rational use of specific structure-directing agents. Research is also carried out to take advantage of the peculiar ion-exchanging properties of zeolite materials for controlling the growth of inorganic nanoparticles on zeolite surfaces for water-treatment applications.