Research Groups in the Chemistry Department
Research Themes in the Chemistry Department
While the subjects of
chemical research in the Chemistry Department are diverse, several
predominant themes span traditional research fields and research groups.
These themes include: artificial photosynthesis, charge transfer for energy
conversion, chemistry with ionizing radiation, catalysis and surface
science, nanoscience, combustion, and nuclear chemistry.
Artificial Photosynthesis
This program addresses major issues hindering progress in photoinduced
catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide, water splitting, and small molecule
activation using an integrated experimental and theoretical approach that
offers fundamental insights into the underlying photochemical processes. One
thrust investigates factors controlling reductive half-reactions. Among
these are: (1) searching for visible-light absorbers to couple with electron
transfer and/or catalytic processes; (2) avoiding high-energy intermediates
through multi-electron, multi-proton processes; (3) using earth-abundant
metals, or metal complexes that have bio-inspired or non-innocent ligands to
achieve low-energy pathways via second-coordination sphere interactions or
redox leveling; (4) adopting water as the target solvent and the source of
protons and electrons; and (5) immobilizing catalysts on electrode or
semiconductor surfaces for better turnover rates and frequencies. Another
thrust investigates water oxidation, focusing on photoelectrolysis processes
occurring in band-gap-narrowed semiconductor and catalyst components by: (i)
tuning semiconductors to control their light-harvesting and
charge-separation abilities; (ii) developing viable catalysts for the
four-electron water oxidation process; (iii) immobilizing the homogenous
catalysts and metal oxide catalysts on electrodes and/or metal-oxide
nanoparticles; and (iv) exploring the interfacial water-decomposition
reactions using carriers generated by visible-light irradiation with the
goal of understanding semiconductorccatalystcwater
charge transport.
Charge transfer for energy conversion
Transfer of
electrons and holes in or between molecules or nano-objects is key to both
natural and synthetic energy capture. The Chemistry Department has a long
and distinguished history of experiments and theory in this field which is
important for solar energy conversion. Members of the Chemistry Department
conduct experimental and theoretical investigations of charge transfer using
excitation by pulses of light or electrons.
Chemistry with ionizing radiation
Complementary to
photochemical excitation, creation of transient molecular ions and free
radicals using electron pulses is the premier method for study of fast
chemical processes. A combination of photo- and electron excitation provides
insights into chemistry beyond what can be learned with photoexcitation
alone. The Department's
Laser-Electron Accelerator Facility (LEAF) is a
world-leading instrument for these studies.
Catalysis Science
Meeting the energy needs of the twenty-first century will require large
improvements in the efficiency of industrial chemical reactions in general
and the establishment of the "hydrogen economy" in particular. Since
heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis will play an important role in
achieving these goals, there is a growing research effort in experimental
and theoretical studies of catalysis at interfaces, by nanoparticles, and by
transition metal complexes in solution. The expertise related to this field
cuts broadly across many groups in the Chemistry Department. Active
collaborations among members of several groups reflect the interdisciplinary
nature of this work. Click on the link below for a summary of catalysis
research at Brookhaven:
Surface Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis
Basic information is sought on electrochemical interfaces and fuel cell
electrocatalytic systems by studying the structural-, electronic-, and
electrocatalytic-properties of atomic and molecular monolayers on
single-crystal and nanoparticle substrates. The focus is on synthesizing and
characterizing Pt monolayers on suitable single crystal and nanoparticle
metal, metal oxide or alloy supports as the electrocatalysts for O2
reduction, and for H2, methanol and ethanol oxidation, as well as
key materials properties and materials interactions that limit battery
lifetime, performance and thermal stability. Programs include
Metal- and Metal Oxide-Supported
Platinum Monolayer Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Advanced
Cathode Catalysts: Oxygen Reduction Catalysts with Ultra-low Platinum
Content.
Nanoscience
The fast growing new field of nanoscience benefits greatly from collaborations
among researchers in chemical dynamics, surface science and catalysis.
Collaborations among groups in the Chemistry Department include members of
the first four programs in the list above. As mentioned, a new
collaboration combines catalysis and nanoscience. Active
collaborations have been established involving Chemistry
Department programs (Catalysis on the Nanoscale: Preparation, Characterization and Reactivity
of Metal-Based Nanostructures,
Injection of Electrons and Holes
into Nanostructures,
Surface Chemical Dynamics), along with researchers from the Brookhaven
Materials Science Department and the
newly created Center for Functional
Nanomaterials.
Combustion
The extraction of useful energy from the combustion of fossil and
alternative fuels will remain a key technology supporting modern society for
many years. Understanding the underlying chemical reactions well enough to
optimize efficiency and minimize emissions is a key challenge to
experimental and theoretical gas phase chemistry. Members of the
Gas-Phase Molecular Dynamics group develop
and apply spectroscopic and theoretical tools to study fundamental problems
in combustion chemistry.
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear chemistry has a rich history in the
Brookhaven Chemistry Department, going back to the founding of the
Laboratory in 1947.
The
Neutrino Group was founded by Physics
Nobel-prize winning Chemist Raymond Davis Jr. (Nobel Laureate in 2002), who
was the first to observe neutrinos from the Sun and to discover the "Solar
Neutrino Problem", that the number of solar neutrinos detected on Earth was
only a fraction of that predicted by solar theory.
The group was active in
two major solar neutrino experiments that have elucidated the nature of the
Solar Neutrino Problem: from 1986-1998 in
GALLEX
at the
Gran Sasso Laboratory
in Italy, and from 1996 to 2006 in the Canadian
Solar Neutrino Observatory
(SNO); now SNOLAB. In fact, SNO "solved" the Problem some thirty years after
its discovery by demonstrating that two-thirds of the neutrinos emitted by
the Sun "disappear" by being transformed into the two other known neutrino
varieties. Such a transformation requires that neutrinos have a hitherto
unknown property, non-zero rest mass.
Neutrino research is at
exciting era of precision measurements in search for the new physics beyond
standard models. The current activities of group include
Solar
Neutrino (LENS),
Reactor Neutrino (Daya
Bay), and
Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay (SNO+) with new
initiated R&D on reactor monitoring and non-proliferation, and
water-based liquid scintillator.
Research Programs Funded in the Chemistry Department
The following table represents a
complete compilation of the research programs funded in the Chemistry
Department. Individual programs listed here represent grants, contracts, or
the funding equivalents to grants or contracts, not research groups, per
se. Therefore, persons may be listed in more than one program. For the
organization of the Chemistry Department into research groups, see the
Chemistry Department Organization Chart.
Bold indicates Principal Investigators, *
indicates retired, † indicates Stony Brook graduate
students
Last Modified: September 12, 2012
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