The Dempsey Group welcomes Kevin Ruoff to the group! Kevin is a sophomore here at UNC, and will be working with Dan to examine rhenium photosensitizers.
Category: Uncategorized (Page 5 of 15)
Postdocs Dylan Gary and Banu Kandemir recently joined the Dempsey Group. Dylan recently received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington under the direction of Brandi Cossairt. Banu recently received her Ph.D. from the University of Rochester under the direction of Kara Bren. Welcome Dylan and Banu!!!
Thomas and Will’s paper, ‘Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions with Photometric Bases Reveal Free Energy Relationships for Proton Transfer’ was just accepted for publication in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B. In this paper,the PCET oxidation of p-aminophenol in acetonitrile was studied. By using a series of 7-dimethylaminoquinoline proton acceptors, which provided an optical handle for proton transfer, a comprehensive picture of the PCET reactivity was obtained. Spectral analysis revealed a stepwise ET-PT reaction process. Proton transfer rate constants were found to correlate with the pKa of the conjugate acid of the proton acceptor, in agreement with anticipated free energy relationships for proton transfer processes in PCET reactions.
Postdoc Tao Huang recently joined the Dempsey Group. Tao recently received his Ph.D. from NC State University under the direction of Walter Weare. Welcome Tao!!!
Robin and Chris’s paper, ‘Quantifying Ligand Exchange Reactions at CdSe Nanocrystal Surfaces,’ was just published in Chemistry of Materials. In this paper, X-type ligand exchange reactions were examined via NMR. By utilizing an exchange ligand with a terminal alkene group, which provided an NMR handle, the exchange reactions could be fully quantified. Studies revealed that caroboxylic acid ligands are in equilibrium with one another, but phosphonic acid and thiol terminated ligands irreversibly displace carboxylic acid terminated ligands.
On Tuesday June 14, Thomas Eisenhart successfully defended his thesis! Thomas is a founding member of the lab. He’s headed to Atlanta to begin a career at Boston Consulting Group. Congratulations Dr. Eisenhart!!!
The lab is thrilled to have four talented undergraduates working in the group this summer! Hannah Starr and Will Howland are continuing their research in the group, and are joined by new members Caroline Reilly (UNC ’17) and Hui Min Tang (National University of Singapore ’18). Hannah, Will and Caroline were all awarded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships from UNC to support their work!
On Wednesday June 1, Robin Knauf successfully defended her dissertation! As a founding member of the lab, Robin is the first Dempsey Group member to receive her Ph.D. Congratulations to Dr. Knauf!!!
Congratulations to Elizabeth Porter. Elizabeth received her B.A. in Chemistry and B.S. in Computer Science with Highest Distinction! Elizabeth is headed to Boston to work for Google!
Noémie, Brian and Eric’s paper perspective, Reaction Pathways of Hydrogen-Evolving Electrocatalysts: Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Processes, has been accepted to ACS Catalysis. This invited perspective highlights our recent work examining PCET processes in molecular electrocatalysis using electrochemical methods and time-resolved spectroscopy.
