Our Research
~90 % of all chemical syntheses in chemical industry include at least one catalytic step. To put this number into dollars and cents, catalysts contribute either directly or indirectly to ~35 % of global GDP (~$27 trillion). A vast majority of catalytic reactions use heterogeneous catalysts because they readily separated from reaction mixtures, can often be regenerated, and are generally easy to prepare by wetting a high surface area oxides with a solution of metal precursor. But this comes with a hidden cost, heterogeneous catalysts have poorly defined active site structures, ultimately resulting in less energy efficient reactions.
Our central goal is to generate active sites on surfaces that have well-defined structures amenable to structure-activity relationships. Our approach involves the preparation of high surface area materials containing characteristic surface sites that react with inorganic complexes to form metal sites with well-defined coordination spheres. This allows us to optimize the activity of heterogeneous catalysts based on the molecular structure of the active site, which we determine by spectroscopic techniques, and to study the key mechanistic steps in the catalytic cycle. Many of the active sites on our well-defined materials are characterized using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. For more information click on the Publications tab to see our recent papers.
Our central goal is to generate active sites on surfaces that have well-defined structures amenable to structure-activity relationships. Our approach involves the preparation of high surface area materials containing characteristic surface sites that react with inorganic complexes to form metal sites with well-defined coordination spheres. This allows us to optimize the activity of heterogeneous catalysts based on the molecular structure of the active site, which we determine by spectroscopic techniques, and to study the key mechanistic steps in the catalytic cycle. Many of the active sites on our well-defined materials are characterized using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. For more information click on the Publications tab to see our recent papers.
Interested in Joining?
Prospective Postdocs:
We are searching for a postdoctoral researcher. If you are interested send your CV (with 3 references) and brief description of your graduate research.
Prospective Undergraduate Students:
Undergraduate research is a great opportunity to gain experience in the lab, and highly encouraged for students interested in chemistry as a career. Interested students should contact Matt by email and also take a look at the UCR Undergraduate Research page.
Prospective Graduate Students:
Apply directly to the Chemistry Graduate Program at UC Riverside. [link] We are happy to discuss our research with prospective graduate students, but can not answer questions about admissions.
We are searching for a postdoctoral researcher. If you are interested send your CV (with 3 references) and brief description of your graduate research.
Prospective Undergraduate Students:
Undergraduate research is a great opportunity to gain experience in the lab, and highly encouraged for students interested in chemistry as a career. Interested students should contact Matt by email and also take a look at the UCR Undergraduate Research page.
Prospective Graduate Students:
Apply directly to the Chemistry Graduate Program at UC Riverside. [link] We are happy to discuss our research with prospective graduate students, but can not answer questions about admissions.