Welcome to FuniMat website
We are a research group in the interface between inorganic and materials chemistry.We are part of the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) at the Universidad de Valencia. Our research encompasses different targets ranging from the synthesis, characterization and nanostructuration of inorganic, porous materials. Built upon a thorough understanding of these basic principles we aim to enable environmentally relevant application based on these materials like catalysis, chiral separation, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis or energy storage.
We collaborate nationally and internationally with renowned research groups, including scientists at ICIQ (Tarragona), Polymat (San Sebastián), Universidad Pablo Olavide (Sevilla), ETH (Zurich), ICN2 (Barcelona), ITQ-CSIC (Valencia), University of Liverpool, KU Leuven, University of Warwick, University of Cambridge and Universidad Autónoma, IMDEA Nanoscience and IMDEA Energía (Madrid).
Our labs are located at the state-of-the-art facilities of ICMol.
Our work in collaboration with J.R. Galan-Mascaros’ group at ICIQ has been published in JACS. This work highlights the versatility and efficiency of TAMOF-1 as a chiral stationary phase capable of separating a variety of model racemic mixtures, including drugs, in a wide range of solvents of different polarity. This performance arises from the combination of chiral channels and weak binding sites allowing for low-energy separation of enantiomers, without any strong binding/recognition sites. Click for more info
Natalia´s work is already available at JACS. The design of metal–organic frameworks with chemical stability is limited to metal connectors as carboxylates or azolates. Inspired by the chemistry of siderophores, we report a hydroxamate titanium framework that combines photoactivity with hydrolytic stability. The straightforward derivatization of carboxylic linkers with hydroxamic groups might represent an alternative route to broaden the family of reticular solids. Check it out!
Check our last collaboration with Mateo-Alonso´s group in Polymat. Marta-COF-1 is a nonplanar 2D-COF in which the waviness of the framework does not disrupt the interlayer p-p stacking so their charge transporting properties are similar to those of the best performing planar 2D COFs. The high stability and crystallinity of Marta-COF-1 have allowed an extraordinary level of characterization by HR-TEM, showing chairlike honeycomb facets and aligned mesoporous channels consistent with the experimental and predicted dimensions and packing. For more info see here
Fran is originally from Elche. He joins the team with a La Caixa Junior Leader Fellowship Fellowship after a Postdoc stay in KU Leuven with Dirk De Vos. He will focus on the development of high performance metal-organic framework catalysts.
Ana graduated in Chemistry in 2018 after an Erasmus stay at The University of Manchester. She will be exploring new methodologies for the flow synthesis of pharmaceuticals with MOF catalysts.
Rubén graduated in Chemistry at the Universidad de Valencia in 2019. He will be exploring the electrocatalytic properties and potential of some of the materials developed @FuniMAT in energy conversion.
Our work on MOFs as chiral stationary phases has been highlighted in Chemical & Engineering News. Check it out!
Our work on the synthesis of hydroxamic titanium frameworks has been highlighted as supplementary cover in JACS. Thanks to the creative team of Principia for the excellent result. Hope you will like it!
Francisco G. Cirujano was present at the award ceremony of “La Caixa” research fellowships, awarded for the development of new methodologies for the efficient synthesis of pharmaceuticals. For more details see here.