Flexible Precursor Strategies to New Catalytic Metal Phosphide and Phosphide-Sulfide Materials

在化学系化学催化项目的支持下，爱德华·G·爱荷华州大学化学系的吉兰寻求对与最近发现的能量有利的无氧方法有关的研究的支持，以生产纳米晶富磷金属磷化物（例如，NiP2）。这种新方法使用比以前磷化物合成中所证明的低得多的温度和更大的宏观结构灵活性。拟议的研究将操纵实验条件，特别是关于溶剂热反应中的刘易斯碱配位添加剂，以开发合理和灵活的纳米颗粒金属磷化物生长的合成方法。了解前体反应性的分子基础的进展是至关重要的调整和控制的组成，结构和形态的金属磷化物，硫化物，和混合阴离子/阳离子结构。改进的分子合成理解将导致更复杂的磷化物化学合成（和硫化物）材料的结构复杂性和物理性能，目前的合成方法无法获得。在化学部化学催化计划的支持下，吉兰教授将进行研究，其中特定的化学反应性调查将包括催化相关的光化学氢从水和醇介质以及热催化从有机分子中除去硫。这两种催化过程在能源相关领域都有潜在的影响，特别是在燃料电池技术中的氢气应用和从碳氢化合物燃料中脱硫方面。更广泛的影响还包括培训关键的研究人员在分子和材料化学的界面上进行多方面的研究，并为博士后，研究生和本科生提供在学术实验室之外取得未来成功所需的关键工具。具体来说，他们将被教导如何设计和实施适当的研究安全协议在实验室环境中，促进有益的协作与其他研究人员在相关领域的互动，并有效地指导初级同事在研究策略的设计。除了在材料化学的教学本科生的改进，吉兰教授已经建立了新的伙伴关系，与爱荷华州的纳米科学和纳米技术研究所大学，以帮助教育K-12教师和社区关于有用的化学反应和无机和有机材料的真实的世界应用。

With the support of the Chemical Catalysis Program in the Chemistry Division, Professor Edward G. Gillan of the Chemistry Department at the University of Iowa seeks support for research related to a recently discovered energetically favorable oxygen-free method to produce nanocrystalline phosphorus-rich metal phosphides (e.g., NiP2). This new method uses much lower temperatures and greater macrostructural flexibility than has previously been demonstrated in phosphide synthesis. The proposed research studies will manipulate experimental conditions, particularly with respect to Lewis base coordinating additives in solvothermal reactions, to develop rational and flexible synthetic methodologies for nanoparticle metal phosphide growth. Advances in understanding the molecular basis of precursor reactivity are critical to the tuning and control of composition, structure, and morphology of resulting metal phosphides, sulfides, and mixed anion/cation structures. Improved molecular synthetic understanding will lead to more sophisticated chemical syntheses of phosphide (and sulfide) materials with structural complexity and physical properties that are not accessible by current synthetic methodologies.With the support of the Chemical Catalysis Program in the Chemistry Division, Professor Gillan will perform research where the specific chemical reactivity investigated will encompass catalysis related to photochemical hydrogen evolution from aqueous and alcohol media and thermal catalytic removal of sulfur from organic molecules. Both catalytic processes have potential impacts in energy-relevant areas, particularly in hydrogen implementation in fuel cell technology and in sulfur removal from hydrocarbon fuels. Broader impacts also include training key research personnel to work on multifaceted research at the interface of molecular and materials chemistry and to provide the postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students with the critical tools necessary for future success outside the academic laboratory. Specifically, they will be taught how to design and implement appropriate research safety protocols in the laboratory environment, to foster beneficial collaborative interactions with other researchers in allied fields, and to effectively mentor junior colleagues in design of research strategies. In addition to improvements in the teaching of materials chemistry to undergraduates, Professor Gillan has established new partnerships with the University of Iowa's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute to aid in educating K-12 teachers and the community about real world applications of useful chemical reactions and inorganic and organic materials.