The Thommes group demonstrated its extensive expertise in advanced characterization techniques at the 12th International Symposium on the Characterization of Porous Solids (COPS XII), held in Dresden, Germany from May 4th to 6th, 2026. The conference is a premier venue for cutting-edge research in advancing the characterization of porous materials (such as MOFs, COFs, zeolites, carbons, and polymers) to optimize their use in energy storage, CO₂ capture, catalysis, filtration, and separation.
The group presented its expertise in the areas of advanced characterization techniques on assessing the wetting behavior of fluids in pores and pores size characterization with novel methodologies both in liquid and gas phases by applying NMR relaxometry and physisorption. This included a groundbreaking concept for macropore analysis utilizing a gallium-based liquid metal (eGaInSn) as a potential replacement for mercury in liquid intrusion techniques.
Our Contributions:
- Prof. Matthias Thommes (Oral Presentation): “Novel Pore Network Model for Advanced Physical Adsorption Characterization of Nanoporous Materials” (Authors: J. Söllner, A. Schuss, A. V. Neimark, M. Thommes)
- Dr. Carola Vorndran (Oral Presentation): “Development of a Novel Characterization Methodology for Nanoporous Materials utilized in Liquid Phase Applications by combining NMR Relaxometry with Adsorption” (Authors: C. Vorndran, L. Sandner, M. Thommes)
- Andreas Schuss (Poster): “Systematic study of the phase- and wetting behavior of a gallium-based liquid metal (eGaInSn) in meso- and macroporous silica, alumina and carbon materials” (authors: A. Schuss, J. Söllner, M. Thommes)
- Lukas Sandner (Poster): “Pore Size Analysis of Mesoporous Silica Materials by Advanced NMR Relaxometry and Gas Adsorption” (Authors: L. Sandner, C. Vorndran, M. Thommes)
- Jens Dümler (Poster): “Advanced characterization of nanoporous materials using a novel in-situ vapor sorption calorimetry method” (Authors: J. Dümler, M. Thommes)
Poster Award Success
To cap off a highly sucessful meeting, we are delighted that Andreas Schuss won a prize for the best poster presentation for the poster on “A non-toxic alternative to mercury in liquid intrusion porosimetry: Systematic study of the phase- and wetting behavior of a gallium-based liquid metal (eGaInSn) in meso- and macroporous silica, alumina and carbon materials” (authors: A. Schuss, J. Söllner, M. Thommes).
