BSE, University of Pennsylvania PhD, University of California, Berkeley Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow CAREER Award, National Science Foundation Leibniz Professor, University of Leipzig (2009)  Senior Editor, Journal of Physical Chemistry Molecular modeling; development of new materials for energy and environmental applications; diffusion in nanoporous materials; adsorption; catalysis; separations; energy storage

Research Group Web Site

Our research focuses on adsorption, diffusion, and catalysis in nanoporous materials. We are interested in novel materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as well as traditional materials such as zeolites that are already widely used in industry. Porous materials with well-controlled structures at the nanoscale can be extremely useful because of their ability to recognize and discriminate between adsorbed molecules. This leads to applications of nanoporous materials in adsorption separations, catalysis, membrane processes, sensing, and energy storage. 

Most of the projects in our group are aimed at solving problems related to energy or the environment.  Examples include development of materials to store hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles, development of materials for capturing carbon dioxide from power plant flue gas (carbon capture and sequestration), development of energy-efficient separations, and development of highly selective catalysts for green chemistry processes.

To address these problems, we use powerful molecular modeling techniques.  Our goal is to develop a better understanding of surface interactions and dynamics in nanoporous materials and to exploit this molecular-level information to develop new, highly-selective processes in adsorption separations, catalysis, and energy storage.  Another goal of our research is to develop new simulation methods that can handle an ever-broader range of time and length scales to address important problems that cannot be simulated with current techniques. Several experimental techniques, especially adsorption measurements, play an important role in our work, either within our group or through collaborations.

Recent Publications

R.Q. Snurr, J.T. Hupp, S.T. Nguyen, "Prospects for nanoporous metal-organic materials in advanced separation processes," AIChE J. 50, 1090-1095 (2004). 

 D. Dubbeldam, K.S. Walton, D.E. Ellis, R.Q. Snurr, "Exceptional negative thermal expansion in metal-organic frameworks," Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 46, 4496-4499 (2007).

K.S. Walton, R.Q. Snurr, "Applicability of the BET method for determining surface areas of microporous metal-organic frameworks," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 8552-8556 (2007).

H. Frost, R.Q. Snurr, “Design requirements for metal-organic frameworks as hydrogen storage materials,” J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 18794-18803 (2007).

M.C. Curet-Arana, G.A. Emberger, L.J. Broadbelt, R.Q. Snurr, “Quantum chemical determination of stable intermediates for alkene epoxidation with Mn-porphyrin catalysts,” J. Molec. Catal. A 285, 120-127 (2008).

K.S. Walton, A.R. Millward, D. Dubbeldam, H. Frost, J.J. Low, O.M. Yaghi, R.Q. Snurr, “Understanding inflections and steps in carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms in metal-organic frameworks,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 406-407 (2008).

P. Ryan, L.J. Broadbelt, R.Q. Snurr, “Is catenation beneficial for hydrogen storage in metal-organic frameworks?” Chem. Commun. 4132-4134 (2008).

D. Dubbeldam, C.J. Galvin, K.S. Walton, D.E. Ellis, R.Q. Snurr, “Separation and molecular-level segregation of complex alkane mixtures using metal-organic frameworks,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 10884-10885 (2008).

Prof. Randall Q. Snurr
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Northwestern University
2145 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-3120

tel: 847/467-2977
fax: 847/491-3728
Email Professor Snurr