01 — Scientific Challenge
Designing Functional Porous Materials
Engineering porous materials with atomically defined architectures to control adsorption, catalysis and molecular transport.
Research
From Atomic Structure
to Functional Materials
Our research seeks to understand how atomic-scale structure governs adsorption, catalysis and molecular transport, enabling the rational design of next-generation porous materials.
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Scientific Vision
The Central Scientific Question
How does atomic structure
determine function?
01
Atomic Motifs
02
Local Structure
03
Structural Dynamics
Adsorption
Catalysis
Molecular Transport
Scientific Challenges
Four Scientific Challenges
Our research is organized around four fundamental scientific challenges that connect atomic-scale structure with the emergence of function in porous materials. Together, they define the conceptual framework that guides our research—from fundamental understanding to rational materials design.
02 — Scientific Challenge
Revealing Hidden Atomic Structure
Uncovering local order, disorder, defects and interfaces beyond the average crystal structure and across multiple length scales.
03 — Scientific Challenge
Watching Materials in Action
Tracking structural transformations under realistic operating conditions through in situ and operando experiments.
04 — Scientific Challenge
Connecting Structure with Function
Establishing quantitative structure–property relationships to guide the predictive design of functional porous materials.
Research Highlights
Research Highlights
Representative contributions to porous materials research, spanning materials design, advanced characterization and environmental applications.
Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2026
Engineering Synergistic Binding Sites
Atomically engineered cooperative binding sites within a zirconium MOF enable ultrafast and highly selective capture of perfluorooctanoic acid through synergistic host–guest interactions.
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ACS Materials Letters (Editor's Choice) · 2026
Ultrafast PFAS Capture
A zirconium MOF achieves exceptionally fast and efficient removal of persistent PFAS contaminants, demonstrating outstanding adsorption kinetics for water purification.
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Journal of Materials Chemistry A · 2025
COF–MOF Hybrid Adsorbents
Hybrid COF–MOF composites combine high adsorption capacity with continuous-flow operation, enabling efficient removal of phenolic contaminants from water.
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Nature Communications · 2023
Optical NO₂ Detection
Copper-functionalized MOFs combine complementary adsorption sites to achieve highly sensitive, selective and reversible optical detection of nitrogen dioxide.
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Nanoscale · 2026
Boosting CO₂ Capture
Understanding the atomic-scale structure of MOFs reveals the key interactions governing carbon dioxide adsorption, guiding the design of more efficient carbon capture materials.
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Chemical Society Reviews · 2024
Local Structure Beyond Crystallinity
A comprehensive perspective on Pair Distribution Function analysis for revealing local order, disorder and hidden structural complexity in porous framework materials.
Read publicationMultiscale Characterization
Connecting atomic structure to material function through complementary characterization.
Increasing length scale →
Atomic
XAS
Oxidation state & coordination
Local & Medium-Range
PDF
Local & medium-range order
Framework
Total Scattering
Framework architecture & porosity
Morphology
Electron Microscopy
Particles & interfaces
Operando
In Situ & Operando
Real-time structural evolution
01Atomic
XAS
Oxidation state & coordination
02Local & Medium-Range
PDF
Local & medium-range order
03Framework
Total Scattering
Framework architecture & porosity
04Morphology
Electron Microscopy
Particles & interfaces
05Operando
In Situ & Operando
Real-time structural evolution
MULTISCALE DATA INTEGRATION
Integrating complementary structural information across all length scales
→Structure–Function Relationships
International Research Infrastructure
Access to the world's leading light sources.
Through long-standing collaborations and competitive beamtime, our group carries out experiments at premier synchrotron facilities across Europe and the United States.
ESRF
Grenoble · France
Diamond
Oxfordshire · UK
APS
Argonne · USA
ALBA
Barcelona · Spain
MAX IV
Lund · Sweden
Understanding structure.
Designing function.
We combine materials chemistry, advanced characterization and data analysis to uncover the structural principles that govern functional porous materials.