Project:	Synthesizing Microporous Liquids
Disciplines:	Chemistry, ChE (for Ch, specialty in organic or inorganic chemistry desirable; for ChE, specialty in materials chemistry desirable)
Mentor:	Kurtis Carsch, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, (CCE), kcarsch@utexas.edu, Phone: 469-569-6651
Mentor URL:	https://cm.utexas.edu/component/cobalt/item/12-chemistry/5438-carsch-kurtis?Itemid=1251  (opens in new window)
Background:	NOTE: This project is being offered by a Caltech SURF alum and is open only to Caltech students. The project will take place at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Porous solids, including emerging materials like zeolites and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), hold major promise for diverse applications ranging from separations to drug delivery to catalysis. However, their widespread industrial adoption is often hindered by challenges in processability and integration with existing, mature technologies that are designed for the transport of liquids. In this proposal, we draw on inspiration from advances in the synthesis and manipulation of ionic liquids, capitalizing on post-synthetic modification strategies to introduce fluidity into microporous materials without modifying their underlying chemical properties. These strategies aim to enhance their adaptability, facilitating their application in addressing critical climate and energy challenges.
Description:	Students will learn about gas sorption fundamentals and execute these principles on newly synthesized samples. Students will be broadly exposed to techniques in benchtop synthesis and air-free synthesis (e.g, Schlenk line, glovebox manipulations), physical characterization of extended materials and small molecules (e.g., TGA, SEM, TEM, IR, XRD, etc.), and abilities to parse through and interpret large sets of data. Students will further learn how to interpret data and conduct appropriate structure-function relationships to unveil systematic trends, allowing for rational optimization of a large space. Students will read the primary literature and discuss findings with Kurtis on a weekly basis.
References:	• Adv. Funct. Mater. 2005, 15, 1285 • Chem. Eur. J. 2007, 13, 3020 • Nature 2015, 527, 216
Student Requirements:	Strongly recommended: Ch1ab, Ch41abc Recommended: Ch102, Ch112 Helpful: Ch153, Ch154 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS: As of winter 2025, I am a new Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UT Austin, building a research program at the interface of catalysis and chemical separations. I received a joint BS/MS from Caltech (2016, chemistry), where I conducted research with Bill Goddard (computational) and Theo Agapie (synthetic inorganic), conducting multiple SURFs during my studies. My undergraduate studies were followed by a Hertz-supported PhD at Harvard with Ted Betley (Harvard, inorganic) and a Beckman-supported postdoc at UC Berkeley with Jeff Long (Berkeley, materials). My broad interests align with energy-efficient transformations (e.g., C–H functionalization of basic building blocks), decarbonization/carbon capture, and synthesizing molecules of unusual electronic structures with built-in metal–ligand instability. Please reach out at kcarsch@utexas.edu if you have any questions!
Programs:	This AO can be done under the following programs:   Program    Available To        SURF    Caltech students only  Click on a program name for program info and application requirements.