College of Science » Chemistry-Seminars

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Wei Liu, University of Cincinnati

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

High-Valent Metal Catalysis
by Wei Liu, University of Cincinnati

Abstract: The ability of transition metals to reach high oxidation states, particularly among second- and third-row transition metals, has enabled the development of various catalytic transformations. However, the reactivity and catalytic potential of high-valent intermediates in earth abundant metals, especially first-row late transition metals, remain poorly understood. This talk will highlight recent advances from our group in understanding the synthetic accessibility of high-valent copper complexes and their catalytic relevance. Furthermore, I will discuss our efforts to harness these elusive intermediates to develop new catalytic modes for the synthesis of biologically active molecules and their applications in biomedical imaging. Finally, recent advances in high-valent nickel catalysis will be discussed.

Host: Qilei Zhu and Luo Long

Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Jennifer Shumaker-Parry, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Plasmonic Platforms for Exploring Light-Matter Interactions
by Jennifer Shumake-Parry

Abstract: Metal nanoparticles exhibit unique optical properties due to the localized plasmonic response to incident light. The strong dependence of plasmons on structural properties means metal architectures can be designed to manipulate electric and magnetic fields on a remarkably small size scale. This structural engineering has broad implications for developing plasmonic platforms for chemical and biological sensing, photovoltaics, and subwavelength and nonlinear optical effects. Chiroptical activity of metal nanostructures has attracted attention because of the potential for light manipulation and coupling with molecules. Much research activity has focused on elucidating the design rules for chiroptical plasmonic responses, with most materials systems focused on bottom-up nanoparticle assembly or top-down fabricated chiral structures. Nanosphere template lithography (NTL) is a simple, versatile fabrication method for preparing plasmonic nanoparticles with structural control. We have extended a modified version of NTL to aluminum, overcoming the challenges with fabrication due to the native oxide layer. In order to fabricate aluminum nanostructures, we introduced a sacrificial copper layer into the NTL fabrication process. Using this fabrication process, symmetric and asymmetric gold and aluminum structures were fabricated. In studying these structures, we observed circular dichroism (CD) responses that can be controlled through the structural design. The influence of the alumina layer is observed when comparing the chiroptical response of aluminum structures to more simple gold structures. In addition, the orientation dependence of the optical responses represents a simple approach in controlling desired handedness in chiral nanomaterials, irrespective of the inherent structural handedness. We are exploring the coupling of molecules with chiroptically-active nanostructures with a focus on plasmon-enhanced CD spectroscopy and Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy.

Host: Vale Molinero

Materials Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Daeyeon Lee, University of Pennsylvania

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In person seminar

Harnessing Nanoconfinement for Functional Polymer–Nanoparticle Composites
by Daeyeon Lee, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract: Nanoscale confinement can dramatically change how polymers flow, mix, and deform. In this talk, I will present our recent work on polymer-infiltrated nanoparticle films (PINFs), a new class of multifunctional coatings where polymers are confined within the interstices of densely packed nanoparticles. Using capillarity-based methods such as capillary rise infiltration (CaRI) and solvent-driven infiltration of polymers (SIP), we fabricate composite films with ultrahigh nanoparticle loadings (>50 vol%) that combine the toughness and processability of polymers with the functionalities of inorganic nanoparticles. I will show how extreme nanoconfinement governs infiltration dynamics in disordered nanoparticle packings and modifies polymer viscosity, which can be either higher or lower than the bulk melt viscosity depending on the degree of confinement. In SIP, infiltration exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on polymer–nanoparticle interaction strength due to a complex interplay among polymer, solvent, and surface interactions. Mechanically, the fracture toughness of PINFs depends on interplay of chain length and confinement. Together, these insights establish PINFs as a versatile platform for multifunctional coatings and membranes that possess mechanical robustness, chemical resilience, and tunable structures.

Host: Luisa Whittaker-Brooks

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Matt Sigman, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Developing Data Science Tools for Synthetic Chemists
by Matt Sigman, University of Utah

Host: Cindy Burrows

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Michael Wasielewski, Northwestern University

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity in Electron Donor-Acceptor Systems
by Michael Wasielewski, Northwestern University

Abstract:  The role of chirality in determining the spin dynamics of photoinduced electron transfer in donor-acceptor molecules leading to radical pairs that can function as spin qubit pairs remains an open question. While chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) has been demonstrated in molecules bound to metal or semiconductor substrates, until now there was no experimental information about whether the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling of the substrate influences the spin dynamics within the molecules themselves. Here we use time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to show that CISS strongly influences the spin dynamics of isolated covalent donor-chiral bridge-acceptor (D-Bc-A) molecules in which selective photoexcitation of D or A is followed by rapid, sequential electron transfer events to yield D•+-Bc-A•-. Exploiting this phenomenon affords the possibility of using chiral molecular building blocks to control electron spin states in quantum information applications.

Bio: Michael R. Wasielewski is the Clare Hamilton Hall Professor of Chemistry and Applied Physics at Northwestern University. He is also Director of the Institute for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE) and Director of the Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction (CMQT), a US-DOE Energy Frontier Research Center at Northwestern. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago and was a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. His research has resulted in over 850 publications and focuses on light-driven processes in molecules and materials, artificial photosynthesis, molecular electronics, quantum information science, ultrafast optical spectroscopy, and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

He is member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Porter Medal for Photochemistry; the American Chemical Society Josef Michl Award in Photochemistry, James Flack Norris Award in Physical Organic Chemistry, and Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award; the Royal Society of Chemistry Faraday Lectureship Prize, Physical Organic Chemistry Award, and Environment Prize; the Bruker Prize in EPR Spectroscopy; the International EPR Society Medal in Chemistry; the Chemical Pioneer Award of the American Institute of Chemists; and the Humboldt Research Award.

Host: Connor Bischak
 

Materials Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Libai Huang, Purdue University 

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Imaging Exciton Transport and Quantum Interactions with Ultrafast Microscopy
by Libai Huang, Purdue University

Abstract: At the most fundamental level, transport of energy carriers (such as electrons and excitons) in the solid state is determined by their wavefunctions and the interactions with the lattices and the environment. Wave properties of these particles have profound consequences in their transport. The key difficulties in probing transport in the quantum regime in real materials lie in the fast (picosecond or shorter) dephasing processes and the nanoscale localization lengths. Thus, to image the motion of excitons in their natural (quantum) time and length scales, experimental approaches combining spatial and temporal resolutions are necessary.

To address this challenge, my research group has developed the combined use of optical microscopy and ultrafast spectroscopy tools to image transport of excitons from the nanoscale to the mesoscale and over a wide range of temperatures. In my talk, I will discuss our recent progress on imaging environment-assisted quantum exciton transport in perovskite quantum dot superlattices, coherent suppression of exciton-exciton annihilation in molecular aggregates, and quantum phase transition of moiré excitons. These results provide fundamental understandings of how excitons migrate in materials and how these processes can be manipulated quantum mechanically. The unique ability to measure and control coherent pathways are critical for both solar energy and quantum information applications.

Bio: Libai Huang is the Tarpo Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University and Director of the U.S. DOE Energy Frontier Research Center “Quantum Photonics Integrated Design Center (QuPIDC),” where her group develops ultrafast microscopy and spectroscopy to visualize quantum transport and many-body phenomena, spanning exciton dynamics, superradiance, and strong light–matter interactions—in 2D materials, perovskite nanocrystal assemblies, and molecular emitters. She serves as an Executive Editor of The Journal of Physical Chemistry. Before joining Purdue, Huang was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory; she earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Rochester and B.S. from Peking University.

Host: Luisa Whittaker-Brooks

Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Tucker Carrington, Queen's University 

Exceptionally accurate ro-vibrational energy levels and tunnelling splittings of water dimer
by Tucker Carrington, Queen's University 

Abstract: We have used (contracted) basis functions that incorporate coupling between inter-molecular coordinates and coupling between intra-molecular coordinates and an iterative eigensolver to compute many energy levels of water dimer (a 12-D problem). The water monomers are completely flexible. We solve the full problem in a basis of products of intramolecular and inter-molecular functions. Intra-molecular coordinates specify the shape of the monomers and intermolecular coordinates specify the relative orientation of the two monomers and distance between them. We are able, for the first time, to compute many monomer-excited states water dimer. To solve the intra-molecular and inter-molecular problems we use the Lanczos algorithm, exploiting the product structure of the primitive basis. We calculate the potential matrix for the full problem without storing the potential on a full-dimensional grid. This is done by storing an intermediate matrix, called the F matrix and parallelizing the calculation. We use a new super accurate potential energy surface computed by S. Yang and D. Zhang, who fit a two-body interaction term with a large number of high-level ab initio points. Agreement with experimental spectra is extremely good. For (H2O)2 the best experiments probe the intermolecular levels and the root means square error (RMSE) with respect to experimental levels is 0.29 cm−1 ; for (D2O)2 the best experiments probe the intra-molecular levels and the RMSE with respect to 22 of 24 intra-molecular (D2O)2 levels is 0.17 cm−1 . The accuracy of our calculation makes it possible to re-assign several experimental bands.

Host: Ryan Steele

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Shannon Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Title: TBA
by Shannon Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract: TBA

Host: Chem SAC 

Analytical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ann Wuttig, University of Chicago

In-person seminar
4630 TBBC
4th floor Thatcher

Electrocatalytic Synthesis with Interfacial Control
by Ann Wuttig, University of Chicago

Abstract: Chemical synthesis driven by electricity offers a scalable, decentralized, and energy-efficient route to furnish value-added products – from fuels to complex molecules. Maximizing reaction efficiency and durability requires immobilized catalytic active sites on electrodes, resulting in dispersed and non-uniform sites. This heterogeneity challenges iterative optimization of reactivity through traditional catalyst modifications, which rely on uniform, singular active sites. This lecture will focus on our research developing synthetic tools and concepts to predictively control interfacial structures at heterogeneous and reusable electrodes at the molecular level. Surface-sensitive techniques and mechanisms will be highlighted throughout the talk. Applications of our interfacial designs in enabling selective chemical syntheses and durable energy conversion systems will be discussed.

Bio: Anna Wuttig is a Neubauer Family Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of Chicago. She joined the faculty in July 2021. She holds a A.B. in Chemistry from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from MIT. She was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley. Her research group develops electricity-driven chemical reactions to synthesize products across the chemical value chain by drawing on physical and synthetic inorganic and organic tools to advance the underlying science gating chemical reactivity at electrified interfaces.

Host: Long Luo/Qilei Zhu

Organic Seminar at the University of Utah
with David Nagib, Ohio State University 

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Harnessing Radical and Carbene Polarity in Organic Synthesis
by David Nagib, Ohio State University

Abstract: Radical and carbene chemistry can afford opposite or orthogonal reactivity to classic two-electron pathways. By developing radical chaperone strategies that merge open (1e-) and closed shell (2e-) processes, we have harnessed this complementary reactivity (and polarity) to impart new types of chemo-, regio-, and stereo- selectivity for remote, double, or reversed C-H and C-O functionalizations of alcohols, amines, and carbonyls. These carbene and radical chaperone strategies are continually being developed to streamline the synthesis of complex, medicinally relevant molecules and heterocycles. This seminar will highlight our newest, most exciting chemistry and the mosaic of champions behind these discoveries.

Host: Qilei Zhu

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Robert Baker, Ohio State University

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In person seminar

Title: TBA
by Robert Baker, Ohio State University

Abstract: TBA

Host: Luisa Whittaker-Brooks

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Andrew McNally, Colorado State University

In-person seminar
4630 TBBC 
4th floor Thatcher

Title: TBA
with Andrew McNally, Colorado State University 

Abstract: TBA

Host: Qilei Zhu

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Guangbin Dong, University of Chicago

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher 
In-person seminar

Title: TBA
by Guangbin Dong, University of Chicago

Abstract: TBA

Host: Qilei Zhu

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Jun Ohata, North Carolina State University

4630 TBBC
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Jun Ohata, North Carolina State University

Abstract: TBA

Host: Andrew Roberts

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Monica McCallum, U Penn

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Monica McCallum, U Penn

Abstract: TBA

Host: Andrew Roberts

Materials Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Natalie Stingelin, Georgia Tech

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher

Title: TBA
by Natalie Stingelin, Georgia Tech

Abstract: TBA

Host: Connor Bischak

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Chris Newton, University of Georgia

In person seminar 
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher

Title: TBA
by Christ Newton, University of Georgia

Abstract: TBA

Host: Andrew Roberts

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Kevin Moeller, Washington University in St. Louis

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: TBA
by Kevin Moeller, Washington University in St. Louis

Abstract: TBA

Host: Qilei Zhu

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Megan Jackson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: TBA
by Megan Jackson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Abstract: TBA

Host: MingLee Tang and Long Luo

Stang-Burrows-Sessler Lectureship at the University of Utah
with Hanadi Sleiman, McGill University

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: TBA
by Hanadi Sleiman, McGill University

Abstract: TBA

Host: Qilei Zhu

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ken Hanson, Florida State University 

TBBC 4630 
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Ken Hanson, Florida State University

Abstract: TBA

Host: MingLee Tang