Seminar Abstract: Atomically precise gold nanoclusters provide a well-defined metal core and ligand shell that can be used as a platform for examining how composition and structure affect the charge transport. However, understanding the structure of individual clusters does not fully explain the conductivity of the material. This seminar will discuss work by Ji et […]

Seminar Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into air from diverse biogenic and anthropogenic sources including direct emission from plants, fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and wildfires. They are present in the air we breathe in minute concentrations, but exert an outsized impact on atmospheric composition, air quality, and climate. VOCs themselves can be […]

Seminar Abstract: Intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) provides a pathway for generating carbon-centered radicals through the abstraction of hydrogens from different C–H sites within a molecule. In intermolecular HAT, electrophilic radicals prefer nucleophilic C–H sites. Due to inherent strain effects in intramolecular HAT, transferring the hydrogen atom from a remote site may lead to an […]

Seminar Abstract: Photocatalysts play a major role in facilitating many chemical processes, but often need heavy metals to reach great catalytic efficiency, which can be toxic and expensive. [Fe(bpy)3]2+ has been a long-studied photosensitizer for its many similarities to the popular photocatalyst, [Ru(bpy)3]2+ , while being a more sustainable molecule. A major difference between the two […]

Seminar Abstract: Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is the third-most mass-produced polymer, with applications ranging from long-term construction to disposable medical application. However, this polymer has the most harmful end-of-life to the environment. Regardless of if PVC items end up in a landfill or recycling stream, thermal and photochemical degradation cause harmful production of hydrochloric acid, dioxins […]

Seminar Abstract: Hybrid halide perovskites are proposed as next-generation photovoltaic semiconductors that can be highly tuned through composition. By altering the composition of the material, we can introduce intentional defects, allowing us to alter their electronic structure in a controlled manner. While point defects in these systems have been at the forefront of the literature, […]

Seminar Abstract: Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide materials such as MoS2 can be synthesized as a monolayer with unique optoelectronic properties suitable for utilization in transistors, infotronics, solar energy conversion, and electrochemical catalysis. However, proliferation of point defects leads to reduced performance due to competing nonradiative recombination processes introduced by defect-driven midband trap states. Chemical vapor […]

Seminar Abstract: Photoexcitation can convert photon energy into chemically and electrically functional states, such as proton-released ionic species, charge-separated states, and mobile free carriers. Understanding how these states form and evolve is key to designing molecular and hybrid materials for photochemical and optoelectronic applications. In this talk, I will present our time-resolved spectroscopic studies on […]

Seminar Abstract: The development of dynamic hydrogels for biomedical applications requires a greater understanding of how molecular crosslink design influences mechanical properties and responsiveness to environmental stimuli. While reversible crosslinks enable desirable properties such as self-healing and viscoelasticity, their susceptibility to hydrolysis can limit network stability and long-term performance. Kang et al. (Chem. Mater. 2024) […]

Seminar Abstract: Covalently cross-linked polymers, or thermosets, exhibit excellent mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance but are difficult to recycle because their permanent covalent networks prevent melting and reshaping. Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) address this limitation by incorporating dynamic covalent bonds that can rearrange under specific conditions, enabling reprocessing while retaining the benefits of […]

Seminar Abstract: Transition metal catalysis has revolutionized chemical synthesis. Reactions such as metal-catalyzed cross coupling, asymmetric hydrogenation and C–H functionaliza-tion have changed the way chemists approach bond constructions and ultimately expand molecular space. Historically, these reactions are catalyzed by closed-shell precious metal complexes that undergo predictable and reliable two-electron redox changes. The increased emphasis on […]

Seminar Abstract: Previously, we reported that the addition of catalytic quantities of cobalt(II) complexes to standard methacrylate-based formulations were found to reduce the crosslinking density, glass transition temperature, modulus and stiffness of the resultant photopolymeric materials proportional to catalyst loading. We have dubbed this technique catalytic chain transfer photopolymerization (CCTP2). Expansion of this technology, however, […]

The electron microprobe is a state-of-the-art microanalytical platform specializing in the quantitative compositional analysis of metals, alloys, inorganic minerals, glasses, ceramics, and thin-films. High spatial and spectral resolution is achieved using a combination of a field-emission electron e-gun and 140 mm Rowland circle equipped with a variety of diffracting crystals. These diffracting crystals enable the […]

Seminar Abstract: The catalytic activity of late metal imido and oxo complexes is commonly associated with two electron atom/group transfer reactions. We have found that the strongly donating bis(carbene)borate ligand platform expands the scope of iron imido and oxo chemistry, leading to new roles for these ligands in catalysis. In one example, the high spin […]

Excited to share that I’ll be a panelist at Climate Currents: Teaching Climate Across the Curriculum, Webinar 2! 🌍🧪 This session spotlights how faculty in the natural sciences are weaving climate into their courses: what we’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t, and what we learned along the way. I’ll be sharing how we bring climate […]

Seminar Abstract: Photonic structures offer the ability to fundamentally alter how light interacts with matter. I will tell several stories of how these abilities can be leveraged for new ways to perform measurements on single molecules. In one story, I will show how the increased light-molecule interactions in high-finesse fiber Fabry-Pérot microcavities can be used […]

Seminar Abstract: Lithium-sulfur batteries hold great promise due to sulfur’s high abundance and theoretical capacity; however, Li-S batteries undergo the formation of soluble polysulfide intermediates which can lead to sulfur depletion and ultimately cell death. Sulfurized polymers like sulfurized polyacrylonitrile, SPAN, can be used to mitigate this problem, but SPAN cathodes experience a drop in […]

Seminar Abstract: Iron complexes are promising alternatives to precious-metal photosensitizers, but rapid excited-state relaxation often limits their reactivity. This seminar will discuss a recent study that combines ligand design and organization within micelles to promote electron transfer from a short-lived upper excited state of an iron(II) complex. Spectroscopic and electrochemical evidence for this pathway will […]