There is provided a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor for sensing a hydrophobic target molecule, comprising a MIP film comprising a hydrophobic polymer host, such as polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) or polystyrene (PS), with one or more binding sites for one or more target molecules, such as parathion methyl (PTM); and a sensing substrate, such as mass sensitive quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The MIP film is coated on a surface of a sensing substrate. There is also provided a method of making the MIP sensor and a method for detecting/quantifying a target molecule using the MIP sensor.

A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest that includes a metal layer disposed upon a substrate, a plurality of nanostructures, and a corresponding plurality of metal deposits spaced apart from the metal layer. The metal layer defines a plurality of holes, each nanostructure includes a first portion disposed within a respective hole, and each metal deposit is disposed upon a second portion of a respective nanostructure. The sensor also includes a molecularly imprinted polymer layer that may cover the metal layer, the nanostructures, and/or the metal deposits. The molecularly imprinted polymer layer defines a cavity shaped to receive the analyte of interest, and the sensor is configured such that, when an analyte contacts the molecularly imprinted polymer layer and becomes disposed within the cavity, an optical property of at least a portion of the sensor changes thereby to cause a detectable color change in and/or from the sensor.

Embodiments provide a methane microporous carbon adsorbent including a thermally-treated CVD carbon having a shape in the form of a negative replica of a crystalline zeolite has a BET specific surface area, a micropore volume, a micropore to mesopore volume ratio, a stored methane value and a methane delivered value and a sequential carbon synthesis method for forming the methane microporous carbon adsorbent. Introducing an organic precursor gas for a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) period to a crystalline zeolite that is maintained at a CVD temperature forms the carbon-zeolite composite. Introducing a non-reactive gas for a thermal treatment period to the carbon-zeolite composite maintained at a thermal treatment temperature forms the thermally-treated carbon-zeolite composite. Introducing an aqueous strong mineral acid mixture to the thermally-treated carbon-zeolite composite forms the methane microporous carbon adsorbent. The crystalline zeolite includes tri-ethanolamine (TEA) and has a shape that is orthogonal with a mid-edge length in a range of 8 m to 20 m.

The present disclosure is directed to novel crystalline germanosilicate compositions and methods of producing the same. In particular, the crystalline germanosilicate compositions are extra-large-pore compositions, designated CIT-13 possessing 10- and 14-membered rings. The disclosure describes methods of preparing these compositions using substituted benzyl-imidazolium organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs). Also disclosed are methods of using these crystalline compositions.

The invention employs tetrapropylammonium (TPA.sup.+) and tetrabutylammonium (TBA.sup.+) as structure directing agents (SDAs), respectively for the preparation of the flexible titanium silicate UPRM-5. Both UPRM-5 variants are detemplated and modified to include extraframework Sr.sup.2+ and produce materials for carbon dioxide adsorption.

An aluminosilicate molecular sieve of STW framework type, designated herein as SSZ-110, and having a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 of less than 100, is provided. SSZ-110 may be synthesized using an organic structure directing agent selected from one or more of 1,4-bis(2,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazolium)butane dications, 1,5-bis(2,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazolium)pentane dications, and 1,6-bis(2,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazolium)hexane dications. SSZ-110 may be used in organic compound conversion reactions and sorptive processes.

The present invention relates to a PST-20 zeolite having a novel skeletal structure, its preparation method, and a selective separation and adsorption method for a gas using the PST-20 zeolite. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a microporous aluminosilicate PST-20 zeolite having a novel skeletal structure totally different from the skeletal structure of known zeolites and using the PST-20 zeolite as an adsorbent/separator capable of selectively adsorbing/separating carbon dioxide to separate and collect carbon dioxide with high purity from burned gases or natural gases.

Mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (MGCN) materials and method of making said MGCN materials is described. The MGCN materials include a three dimensional cyanamide based carbon nitride matrix having tunable pore diameters, a pore volume between 0.40 and 0.80 cm.sup.3 g.sup.1, and a surface area of 195 to 300 m.sup.2 gm.sup.1. The matrix comprises sheets of three dimensionally arranged s-heptazine (tri-s-triazine) units. The MGCN materials are used as catalysts in aldol condensation reactions, in particular Knoevenagel reactions. The mesoporous structure is obtained by means of a silica template like KIT-6, which is removed after polymerisation of the cyanamide monomers.

A short channel ordered mesoporous carbon loaded indium cobalt sulfide and indium nickel sulfide ternary composite photocatalyst, and a preparation method and application thereof. The short channel ordered mesoporous carbon loaded indium cobalt sulfide and indium nickel sulfide ternary composite photocatalyst is prepared by mixing pretreated short channel mesoporous carbon with cobalt salt, nickel salt, indium salt and reducing agent with a hydrothermal reaction. The short channel ordered mesoporous carbon is obtained by calcining a short channel ordered mesoporous silica and a carbon source under the protection of nitrogen, wherein the short channel ordered mesoporous silica is prepared by carrying out reactions of sol-gel-hydrothermal-calcination sequentially using a mixture of a surfactant, a hydrochloric acid solution, ammonium fluoride and tetraethyl orthosilicate. The photocatalyst has strong adsorption and visible light catalytic activity on VOCs, and can effectively adsorb and decompose the enriched VOCs in situ on the surface of the catalyst.

A method is provided for generating a composite material with a support structure and a coating on the surface of the support structure, the coating comprising, as active component, crystals of a zeolite material or of a zeolite-like material, with intercrystalline mesopores and/or macropores being formed in the coating, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: a) providing a suspension which comprises nanoscale starting crystals of a zeolite material or of a zeolite-like material, and also precursor compounds of the zeolite material or zeolite-like material, b) applying the suspension provided in step a) to the surface of the support structure, c) compacting the suspension applied in step b) by at least partially removing the solvent that forms the liquid phase of the suspension, to yield a coating which comprises the starting crystals and the precursor compounds, d) keeping the coating obtained in step c) on the surface of the support structure in a vapor-containing atmosphere at an elevated temperature, so that the precursor compounds present are converted into a zeolite material or a zeolite-like material and, together with the starting crystals, form the coating which comprises crystals of a zeolite material or of a zeolite-like material.