Themed collection: 12th International Mesostructured Materials Symposium (IMMS12)

The groundbreaking report by Mobil scientists in 1992 on a family of mesoporous materials—MCM-41, MCM-48, and MCM-50—marked a pivotal moment in this area.¹ Mesoporous and mesostructured materials quickly became a compelling and significant field of study. In response to the urgent need to gather researchers in the field and create a forum for scientific exchange, the first International Symposium on Mesoporous Molecular Sieves (ISMMS) was held in Baltimore in 1998. This event marked the beginning of the International Mesostructured Materials Association (IMMA) (https://mesostructured.org/) that was established by the International Advisory Board of the ISMMS during the second symposium in Québec City in 2000. Consequently, the ISMMS was renamed the International Mesostructured Materials Symposium (IMMS).

Twelve IMMS meeting have since been organized under the auspices of the IMMA on a biennial or triennial basis, and IMMS became an unmissable event in the area of materials chemistry. The subsequent editions were held as follows:

• IMMS 3: Jeju Island, South Korea (2002)

• IMMS 4: Cape Town, South Africa (2004)

• IMMS 5: Shanghai, China (2006)

• IMMS 6: Namur, Belgium (2008)

• IMMS 7: Sorrento, Italy (jointly organized with the International Zeolite Conference) (2010)

• IMMS 8: Awaji Island, Hyogo, Japan (2012)

• IMMS 9: Brisbane, Australia (2015)

• IMMS 10: Los Angeles, USA (2018)

• IMMS 11: Dalian, China (hybrid format) (2021)

Following the decision made at IMMS 11 in Dalian, IMMS 12 was awarded to Montpellier, and the meeting was held at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM) from July 8 to 12, 2024. The event brought together 130 participants from 18 countries, representing all continents. A diverse range of nationalities contributed to a rich exchange of ideas. The symposium featured memorable moments and engaging discussions. The event maintained a very high scientific standard while fostering a casual atmosphere, which effectively promoted scientific exchange.

During the conference, the IMMA Award was presented to Professor Hiromi Yamashita (Osaka University, Japan), and the IMMA Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Professor Osamu Terasaki (Stockholm University, Sweden) for their outstanding contributions to the field of mesostructured materials. Additionally, Professors Laurent Bonneviot (ENS Lyon, France) and Dongyuan Zhao (Fudan University, Shanghai, China) were honored for their continuous efforts in promoting the domain of mesostructured materials and their significant contributions to the field.

The newly elected IMMA Council became more diverse, including more researchers and young scholars from different corners of the world. The 12th IMMS assembly unanimously agreed to retain the IMMA Award and add the IMMA Young Scientist Award to encourage young scholars of the field.

We are delighted to write this editorial for the IMMS themed collection in New Journal of Chemistry. The contributions showcase the diverse range of topics discussed at IMMS12, including oxides, mixed oxides, MOFs, carbons, and biomaterials, with applications in catalysis, drug delivery, and more. We hope that the NJC readership finds this themed collection as engaging and enjoyable to read as it was for us to compile.

We thank Samuel Oldknow and Mike Andrews for their invaluable efforts and support in producing this themed collection.

The mesostructured adventure will continue. IMMS13 is already under preparation in Hohhot, China. We wish the organisers great success for this next edition.

Bon vent for IMMS, and see you in Hohhot in 2026!

 

Dr Peter Hesemann and Prof. Bao-Lian Su

Co-Guest Editors of NJC Themed Collection

References

1. C. T. Kresge, M. E. Leonowicz, W. J. Roth, J. C. Vartuli and J. S. Beck, Nature, 1992, 359, 710–712.

---