King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

About: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Membrane & Catalysis. The organization has 6221 authors who have published 22019 publications receiving 625706 citations. The organization is also known as: KAUST.

Isolated Fe Sites in Metal Organic Frameworks Catalyze the Direct Conversion of Methane to Methanol

Abstract: Hybrid materials bearing organic and inorganic motifs have been extensively discussed as playgrounds for the implementation of atomically resolved inorganic sites within a confined environment, with an exciting similarity to enzymes. Here, we present the successful design of a site-isolated mixed-metal metal organic framework (MOF) that mimics the reactivity of soluble methane monooxygenase enzyme and demonstrates the potential of this strategy to overcome current challenges in selective methane oxidation. We describe the synthesis and characterization of an Fe-containing MOF that comprises the desired antiferromagnetically coupled high-spin species in a coordination environment closely resembling that of the enzyme. An electrochemical synthesis method is used to build the microporous MOF matrix while integrating the atomically dispersed Fe active sites in the crystalline scaffold. The model mimics the catalytic C–H activation behavior of the enzyme to produce methanol and shows that the key to this react...

Artificial channels for confined mass transport at the sub-nanometre scale

Abstract: Mass transport at the sub-nanometre scale, including selective transport of gases, liquids and ions, plays a key role in systems such as catalysis, energy generation and storage, chemical sensing and molecular separation. Highly efficient biological channels in living organisms have inspired the design of artificial channels with similar, or even higher, mass-transport efficiency, which can be used at a much larger scale. In this Review, we highlight synthetic-nanomaterials-enabled channels in the platforms of well-defined nanopores, 1D nanotubes and 2D nanochannels, and discuss their design principles, channel architectures and membrane or device fabrication. We focus on fundamental mechanisms of sub-nanometre confined mass transport and their relationships with the structure–property–performance. We then present the practicalities of these channels and discuss their potential impact on the development of next-generation sustainable technologies for use in applications related to energy, the environment and healthcare. Artificial channels that selectively transport small molecules at the sub-nanometre scale are used in many applications, but, in particular, in molecular separation. This Review discusses the design of channels, nanostructure, fabrication and mass-transport mechanisms, as well as outlining promising applications and the challenges ahead.