CAREER: Rationally Designing, Synthesizing and Self-Assembling Multifunctional, Hybrid Nanostructured Organosilica and Organosilica-Titania Materials for Catalysis

该职业奖由无机、生物无机、有机金属化学和固态化学项目颁发，支持锡拉丘兹大学Tewodros Asefa教授合理设计和开发多功能金属氧化物纳米材料的工作，该材料包含多个以受控间隔分布的活性官能团。该材料有望催化化学反应，提高反应速率和收率。控制活性、功能催化位点的分布可以使纳米材料同时催化多种化学反应，从而有效地生产出收率更高、副产品更少、成本更低的精细化学品和合成材料。参与本研究的本科生和研究生将学习如何合成气敏有机硅烷前体和固态材料，并将获得将这些材料应用于各种催化反应的宝贵技能。拟议的工作将使Asefa教授能够实现他的多管齐下的教育目标：(1)为有风险的学生开发一个以同伴为主导的数学相关化学主题辅导支持计划。理科生和非理科生都将被录取。该项目可能会提高雪城大学及其他大学入门课程本科生的保留率。(2)通过积极参与雪城当地科学中心和暑期科学营，提高中学生、高中生和大学生对科学的兴趣；(3)在雪城大学及其周边地区开设和扩大纳米科学和材料化学的本科和研究生课程。

This CAREER award by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry and Solid State Chemistry Programs supports work by Professor Tewodros Asefa at Syracuse University to rationally design and develop multifunctional metal-oxide nanomaterials that contain multiple active functional groups distributed at controlled intervals. The materials are expected to catalyze chemical reactions, enhancing their reaction rates and yields. The controlled distribution of the active, functional catalytic sites may enable the nanomaterials to catalyze several chemical reactions simultaneously, thereby efficiently producing fine chemicals and synthetic materials with higher yields, fewer unwanted byproducts, and reduced cost. Undergraduate and graduate students participating in this research will learn how to synthesize air-sensitive organosilane precursors and solid-state materials and will gain valuable skills in applying these materials to various catalytic reactions. The proposed work will enable Professor Asefa to realize his multi-pronged educational objectives: (1) to develop a peer-led tutoring support program on math-related chemistry topics for at-risk students. Both science majors and non-majors will be enrolled. The program may increase the retention rates for undergraduate students enrolled in gateway courses at Syracuse University and beyond. (2) to increase interest in the sciences among middle, high school, and college students through active participation in Syracuse's local science center and summer science camps; and (3) to create and expand undergraduate and graduate course offerings in nanoscience and materials chemistry at and around Syracuse University.