On February 22, 2016 John Anthony, a Chemistry professor at the University of Kentucky had an article featured in the Nature Communications publication. The article titled, "Reducing dynamic disorder in small-molecule organic semiconductors by suppressing large-amplitude thermal motions," deals with understanding performance vibrations in organic semiconductors.
The editors of the journal Energy Technology named an article by University of Kentucky Chemistry Professor Susan Odom one of the top 10 articles of 2015. Odom’s publication, "A Highly Soluble Organic Catholyte for Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries," was selected based on the number of downloads and citations, and the feedback of the journal’s editorial office Energy Technology publishes articles covering all technical aspects of energy process engineering from different angles.
Alexis Eugene was recognized for her research at the 5th Annual Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainaility and the Environment (TFISE) Forum held in December 2015. Her poster presentation titled "Photochemistry of alpha-keto acids in model atmospheric waters" received recognition as one of the two best graduate student posters.
The beginning of the new year marks a celebration of mentoring at the National Science Foundation through the recognition of mentors via PAESMEM: the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, & Engineering Mentoring. A recent article published by the National Science Foundation featured PAESMEM alumni, including Chemistry Professor D. Allan Butterfield, on the subject of what makes a good mentor and why mentoring matters.
Nature uses microvascular structures as a central element of complex materials that grow, regenerate, and improve themselves and their function. Work into synthesizing microvascular materials has recently taken a step forward in the form of a new synthetic process VaSC (Vaporization of a Sacrificial Component) that enables the formation of 3D microstructures that are meters in length. I report on our recent advances in using VaSC to create three-dimensional gas exchange units modeled on the design of avian lungs. I will focus on mass transfer applications for the capture of CO2. I will also report on recent research into creating high surface area micro-structures, the synthesis of cooperative binders of CO2 and chemical reactions mediated by photo-thermal effects. Finally, I will talk about adapting microvascular structure to allow them to improve their functions through chemical remodeling.
Link to Esser-Kahn group: link
"Electron-Donating Phenothiazines for Energy Storage Applications"
Prof. Susan A. Odom
Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky
Phenothiazine derivatives have seen widespread use as stable electron-donating organic compounds with generally stable oxidized states, which makes them an attractive core for functionalization for use in electrochemical energy storage applications. With phenothiazine itself as a starting material, functionalization of the 3, 7, and 10 positions is facile, providing options to modify redox potentials and improve stability in both the neutral and singly oxidized (radical cation) states. Additionally, this ring system can be built from aryl amines and aryl bromides, allowing for the production of compounds with even more functionalization, including incorporating groups at the 1 and 9 positions and – in some cases – at every sp2-hybridized C atom in the aromatic core. In many cases, computational studies have predicted what we have observed experimentally, and often guides our design of next-generation materials. This presentation focuses on the characterization of phenothiazine derivatives, both from experimental and computational approaches, and includes results from their incorporation into lithium-ion batteries as electrolyte additives for overcharge protection as well as studies toward using them in non-aqueous redox flow batteries as catholytes.
This seminar is part of the 2015-16 Energy Storage Seminar Series at UK supported by NSF EPSCoR under Award No. 1355438.
University of Kentucky Department of Chemistry researchers Edith Glazer, Sean Parkin and students Erin Wachter and Diego Moyá recently published a study showing that specialized compounds containing the metal ruthenium may be able to visualize or damage specific DNA structures relevant for cancer.
This fellowship recognizes both current achievements as a doctoral student as well as future potential.
The article titled "Non-Covalent Intermolecular Interactions in Organic Electronic Materials: Implications for the Molecular Packing vs. Electronic Properties of Acenes" has been published online as a Just Accepted manuscript. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b03266
