Research/Teaching Interests

Supramolecular Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry

GROUP PHOTO November 2011. Left side, top to bottom: Kevin, Mark, Joel (standing). Middle, top to bottom: Susan, Clement. Right side, up high (L to R): Stanley, Brian. Right side, back (L to R): Angela, Liang, Hessam, Kamal, Thanh. Right side, front (L to R): Joanna, Camille, Zhengyu, Simon, Dayle.  Missing: Gomathi

In our research, we are developing new organic and inorganic materials with interesting properties that may find applications in electronics, photonics, catalysis, and other applications. We make the materials, characterize them, and study their properties, often in collaborations. We develop diverse materials - solid-state structures, polymers, gels, glasses, and others - to address interesting scientific and engineering problems. Some of our projects are aimed at combatting environmental problems or improving alternative energy applications, such as solar energy conversion and hydrogen fuel cells

Students make new molecules and materials, and study them by a large variety of techniques – electron microscopy, thermal analysis, NMR spectroscopy, IR / Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis / fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, light scattering, X-ray crystallography, gas adsorption, calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, electrochemistry, etc.

Below are examples of projects in progress or recently completed:

1. Mesoporous materials. We are creating new mesoporous materials for applications in optics, supercapacitor electrodes, and catalysis.

Recent sample publications:

1. Nature 2010, 468, 422.
2. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 867.
3. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 10991.  
4. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 9740.
5. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 3728.

2. Tubular assembly of shape-persistent macrocylces. We are working on the synthesis and self-assembly of new macrocycles, such as the macrocycles shown below:

Recent sample publications:

1. Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 1169.
2. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 7668.
3. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 3893.

3. Molecules and materials for storing hydrogen. We have demonstrated that porous molecular solids and frameworks based on triptycene may potential as adsorbents and hydrogen storage materials.

Recent sample publications:

1. Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 11824.
2. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 8683.

4. Polymer-templated coordination solids. We recently showed that Prussian blue can be organized into mesostructured materials and nanoworms using liquid crystal and block copolymer templates, respectively.

Recent sample publications:

1. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 8420.
    
2. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 1597.
3. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 511.

5. Self-assembled metal-organic nanofibers and materials, including gels.

Recent Sample Publications:

1. Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 2453.
2. Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 13456.
3. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 7980.

If you are interested in joining our team, please visit our homepage and contact Dr. MacLachlan for more information.

Research Projects