Clathrate Hydrates – Molecular Science and Characterization

John Ripmeester is Principal Research Officer in the Materials Structure and Function Group at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, Canada. He obtained a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of British Columbia in 1970 and has currently more than fifty years of research experience with the main areas of interest: clathrates and inclusion compounds, porous materials, supramolecular materials, materials characterization and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance. Dr. Ripmeester has received a number of awards, including a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada (2000) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Conference on Gas Hydrates (2014). He has authored more than 600 journal and conference papers. Saman Alavi is assistant research officer in the Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences at the National Research Council in Ottawa, Canada. He obtained a PhD in physical-theoretical chemistry from the University of British Columbia in 1999. Before moving to the NRC he was appointed as adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. His research activities are dealing with the clathrate hydrate materials since 2004. Dr. Alavi has authored more than 50 journal and conference papers.

INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE CLASSIFICATION OF CLATHRATE HYDRATES Hydrates as Inclusion Compounds Guest Chemistry Phase Equilibria STRUCTURE OF CLATHRATE HYDRATE PHASES General and Specific Structures Structural Transitions Structure Relationships SYNTHESIS OF CLATHRATE HYDRATES Stoichiometry of Hydrates Liquid-gas, Solid-Liquid and Solid-Gas Reactions Kinetic Control vs. Thermodynamic Control CHARACTERIZATION OF CLATHRATE HYDRATES Diffraction Techniques Spectroscopy Techniques Molecular Simulations THERMODYNAMICS OF CLATHRATE HYDRATES Statistical Mechanics Guest-Host Interactions Free Energy Calculations Classical Methods of Composition Analysis Heats of Formation, Decomposition, Enclathration KINETICS OF CLATHRATE HYDRATE FORMATION AND DECOMPOSITION Macroscopic vs Microscopic Measurements Nucleation: Heterogeneous vs. Homogeneous Growth and Decomposition Kinetic Inhibitors Anomalous Preservation Memory Effects DYNAMICS OF WATER AND GUEST MOLECULES IN CLATHRATE HYDRATES Reorienational Dynamics and Diffusion of Guest Molecules Diffusion of Guest Molecules Quantum Effects MECHANICAL AND TRANSPORT PROPERTIES Expansivity: Microscopic and Macroscopic Studies Elastic Constants Heat Capacity Thermal Conductivity HIGH PRESSURE CLATHRATE HYDRATE PHASES Experimental Techniques APPLICATIONS OF CLATHRATE HYDRATES Natural Gas Production Gas Separations Gas Storage Desalination Energy Storage APPENDIX Listing of Known Guest Materials