2025 – Page 77 – Impact Lab

Zeolites are crystalline materials widely used in applications like ion exchange, adsorption, and catalysis. However, their microporous structure restricts their ability to process larger molecules. To overcome this challenge, researchers have developed ZMQ-1, a zeolite that incorporates intrinsic mesopores—pores larger than 20 Å—while preserving both stability and acidity.

Previous attempts to create mesoporous zeolites struggled with issues like structural instability and reduced acidity, rendering them unsuitable for industrial use. ZMQ-1, however, presents a solution to these problems. The researchers utilized a phosphonium-based organic structure-directing agent (OSDA) to form the mesoporous framework. Unlike traditional ammonium-based OSDAs, phosphonium-based OSDAs offer a stronger positive charge and greater stability, which allows for the synthesis of more robust mesoporous structures. The crystallization of ZMQ-1 was accomplished through hydrothermal synthesis with tunable silicon-to-aluminum (Si/Al) ratios, enabling the zeolite to be customized for specific applications.

Cristian Ponce met his co-founder Théo Schäfer at a Halloween party in 2023, where Ponce was dressed as Indiana Jones. The event, hosted by Entrepreneur First, a startup incubator, connects aspiring founders to launch innovative ideas. It was here that Ponce first encountered Schäfer, whose background at MIT and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, where he explored Jupiter’s moons for alien life, fascinated Ponce. For his part, Ponce had studied bioengineering at Caltech, working with E. coli. Despite their distinct scientific backgrounds, the two bonded over shared frustrations with the tediousness of lab work.

As lab technicians, both had spent countless hours performing repetitive tasks, particularly in genetic engineering. One such task involves using a syringe-like tool called a “pipette” to transfer liquids between test tubes. While automation has attempted to ease this burden, the robots capable of doing so are expensive, specialized, and require extensive programming. If a scientist needs to adjust an experiment, they often face delays waiting for the bot to be reprogrammed. As a result, humans are still often more efficient at these tasks, despite the manual labor involved.

Year: 2025

The Design of ZMQ-1

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