Research Projects

In chemical, pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry, heterogeneous catalysts are largely used for several organic transformations and CO2 conversion reactions to produce numerous valuable chemicals. Hence, research on development of new heterogeneous catalysts is highly required. Major drawbacks of conventional heterogeneous catalysts (zeolites, aluminosilicates, metal oxides, activated carbons, etc.) comprise absence of well-defined structures, existence of non-uniform and multiple active sites with dissimilar selectivity and reactivity, which pose difficulty in structure-activity correlation. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential heterogeneous catalysts for different catalytic reactions. They satisfy key properties of an effective heterogeneous catalyst like distinct structure and pore system, high crystallinity, large surface area and presence of identical active sites. Different metal nanoparticles can be anchored with MOFs at definite sites of functional groups grafted with pre-functionalized ligands to synthesize single-atom MOF catalysts. However, till date, only 17 single-atom MOF catalysts were reported for proposed catalytic reactions. Hence, it is required to develop new single-atom MOF catalysts for suggested catalytic reactions. Herein, PI proposes to synthesize new functionalized Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Ce(IV) MOFs with suggested ligands by solvothermal technique. Then, various metal nanoparticles (Co, Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Ru, Rh, Au) will be anchored with ligands to synthesize single-atom MOF catalysts. Bare MOFs and single-atom MOF catalysts will be thoroughly characterized and their porosity and physicochemical stability will be examined. Then, catalytic activities of single-atom MOF catalysts will be assessed in different industrially relevant organic transformations and CO2 conversion reactions (hydrogenation and photo-reduction of CO2) preferably under mild conditions. The suggested catalytic organic transformations are highly beneficial for chemical, pharmaceutical and agricultural industry for manufacture of a wide variety of valuable chemicals. Likewise, suggested catalytic chemical fixation reactions of CO2 are very beneficial for reduction of atmospheric CO2 by reacting with different organic substrates to synthesize various valuable chemicals like agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, etc. Similarly, catalytic hydrogenation and photo-reduction of CO2 will produce few fuels (methane, formate and methanol). Besides, produced fuels will satisfy energy demands of society. Results of systematic investigation will also afford flawless correlation of structural features of MOF catalysts with performances, helping to develop new single-atom catalysts with other MOFs and porous supports. Collaboration with various industries will be set up for using them in industrial catalytic reactions to produce different fuels and valuable chemicals.