Alexey V. Kubarev

KU Leuven | ku leuven · Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M²S)

The molecular-sized pores of zeolite catalysts provide spatial restrictions that allow for shapeselective catalysis. As most zeolites have several pore types with different geometries and properties, reaction selectivity is dependent on the pore geometry around the active site. Selectivity can be improved by restricting the access of reactants to specific zeolite pores. Competitive adsorption on zeolites contacted with complex molecular mixtures in liquid phase is poorly understood, as well as the use of this competition to achieve selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis.

The application of a novel integrated super-resolution fluorescence- and scanning electron microscope allows a straightforward investigation of the structure-activity relationship of catalysts, sensors and/or photovoltaic materials beyond the single-particle level. A profound knowledge on the nanoscale properties will lead to rationalized synthesis procedures for obtaining high-quality products with improved material performance.