Periodic Reporting for period 1 - iSPY (Immobilized proteins in porous materials – Structural studies by Pulse EPR dipolar spectroscopY)
Reporting period: 2018-06-01 to 2020-05-31
ii.) Surface-modified titania materials have been prepared and studied by EPR and spin-probe EPR. The results offer new insights into the surface modification process which will guide the development of more advanced materials. These have been disseminated via a publication, others are in preparation and also on Twitter.
iii.) Other paramagnetic materials, including bitumen and porous metal-organic frameworks for gas storage, have also been studied by EPR. The results offer new insights into the composition and the degradation mechanism of such materials with important industrial implications. These have been disseminated via a publication, others are in preparation and also on Twitter. The bituminous research involved collaborators from the private sector who are interested in further exploration.
iv.) In situ spectroelectrochemical (EPR coupled with electrochemistry) setups have been built and tested. The result is the development of methodologies, which not only have the potential to be used for studying hybrid materials under working conditions, but also electrochemical processes in general. These have been disseminated via a publication, other manuscripts are in preparation and also on Twitter.
i.) How proteins behave within hybrid materials. These results will impact the preparation of new hybrid materials with improved properties, expanding their potential utility in technological applications such as biosensors, biofuel cells and biocatalysts.
ii.) Surface-modified titania materials. Aside from their valorization during the preparation of hybrid materials, these results will also impact the preparation of titania materials in general, which will aid the development of better functional materials such membranes for separation technologies and photocatalyst.
iii.) The composition and degradation of paramagnetic materials with existing and potential industrial applications. These results will potentially impact on the production and maintenance of such materials.
Ultimately these results will improve the lives of people and address some of the ecological and economical demands of the 21st century.
Furthermore, this project has also advanced the state of the art with regards to EPR methods for the characterization of paramagnetic materials in general. These methods offer unique information regarding the materials used in numerous fields of studies such as those listed in i.), ii.) and iii.). This project will potentially fuel the further development of EPR methods.