J. Karl Johnson

 

Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

1242 Benedum Hall

412-624-5644, 9639(fax)

karlj@engr.pitt.edu

http://puccini.che.pitt.edu/index.html

 

 

Control of materials at the atomic scale often involves confinement of molecules to nanometer-size domains. We have developed an extensive research program to describe the equilibrium and transport properties of fluids confined in nanoporous materials, such as single walled carbon nanotubes and metal organic frameworks. Nano-confined fluids may exhibit very different behavior from bulk fluids. For example, we have predicted quantum sieving of isotopes, extremely high transport rates of fluids in carbon nanotubes, and unique hydrogen bonding of confined water. Manipulation of structures and properties at the nanoscale will lead to the development of new processes and products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Water molecules confined inside a single walled carbon nanotube: The water molecules adopt a stacked-ring structure, bound by two different types of hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen atoms that participate in intra-ring hydrogen bonding are colored green while inter-ring hydrogen bonding is shown by the blue atoms.