Studies on Soluble Metal Sulfides

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Dr. Thomas B. Rauchfuss of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will design and synthesize a variety of molecular and solid-state metal sulfide compounds. The four specific areas of study include metal-centered reactivity in M4S3 clusters and osmium- and iron-sulfides, examining structure/reactivity trends in M3S4 clusters, development of new routes to dimers and polymers containing metal clusters, and manipulating the stability and stoichiometry of newly discoverd C60-S-Fe adducts. A basic premise of the cluster work is that reactive entities are best prepared by subtle means compatible with the preservation of highly reactive sites, and patterns delineated in this study are expected to provide a context for correlating a significant body of molecular and solid state chemistry. Dr. Rauchfuss will also explore new hybrid bio-organometallic materials and new carbon sulfides derived from C60 which bridge the interface between inorganic and organometallic sulfide chemistry. The overall goal of this research is a molecular-level understanding of the synthesis, reactivity, and structure of metal sulfides. The information obtained from this work provides an underpinning for new catalytic technologies, new materials, and most importantly, the discovery of unexpected new chemical phenomena. The work is motivated by the broad relevance of metal sulfide systems and the chemsitry of elemental sulfur to such materials. Furthermore, the work is expected to lead to the discovery of new chemical phenomena related to materials used to clean fossil fuels, to transform atmospheric nitrogen into life-giving ammonia, and to capture and transfer energy from the sun.