by Jenny Wells-Hosley
This week, the University of Kentucky and surrounding communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans — with a variety of community events.
By Jenny Wells-Hosley
The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced that 10 students and recent graduates have been selected to receive government-funded National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships. In addition, a UK doctoral student and two alumni received honorable mention recognition from the NSF.
Biosketch: Christopher H. Hendon is an Assistant Professor of Computational Chemistry at the University of Oregon, with interests in energy materials and coffee extraction. He obtained his BSc. Adv. HONS from Monash University (2011) and PhD from the University of Bath (2015). After a two year postdoc at Massachusetts Institute of Technology he joined the University of where his research group focuses the chemistry of transition metal clusters.
Prof. Hendon’s interest in coffee began during his PhD, and since then has published several peer-reviewed articles and a book, Water For Coffee. He enjoys washed African coffees, dry rieslings, and east coast oysters.
Abstract: Although generally thought of as highly ordered crystals, all metal-organic frameworks contain defects. Some defects may reveal catalytic active sites or hint at competing material phases, while othersmay result in electronic doping. Modern computational approaches are well-suited to studying theemergent chemistry of these imperfections, and can be used to directly inform experiment and characterization of materials with properties that diverge from those gleaned from crystallography. This talk discusses the chemistry afforded by defects in metal-organic frameworks, with a focus on structural dynamics and adatoms, both promoted by Lewis basic sites within the scaffolds. The utility of these defects will be presented from the perspective of heterogeneous catalyst development.
This lecture series commemorates the life and legacy of Professor Susan Odom, an energetic, productive, and driven faculty member in the Department of Chemistry from 2011 to 2021. It features speakers noted for outstanding research in Professor Odom’s fields of synthetic and materials chemistry.
Visit this page for more information on the Susan A. Odom lecture series.
Bio: Ellen was born in Washington D.C. and spent most of her life moving around the world with her family. After graduating from Somers High School (Somers, NY), Ellen attended Boston University, where she participated in the BUCOP program, pursuing simultaneous d
egrees in Science Education (B.S.) and Chemistry (B.A.). Following graduation, she journeyed out west to begin her graduate work at Purdue University, where she became a founding member of the research group of Suzanne C. Bart. Her thesis was centered around the synthesis and reactivity of low-valent, organouranium complexes. In 2013, she completed her Ph. D. work and began a postdoctoral position in the Fout Laboratory at UIUC, where she studied the development of bioinorganic systems for functional models of nitrite reduction. Ellen is a runner and has completed multiple marathons and half-marathons.
"Advances in Polyoxovanadate-alkoxide Cluster Synthesis with Application in Nonaqueous Redox-flow Batteries"
Abstract: Effective integration of renewable energy from intermittent sources (i.e. solar and wind) requires the development of efficient energy storage systems which can function in tandem with the electrical grid. Non-aqueous redox-flow batteries have emerged as promising systems for large-capacity, reversible energy storage capable of meeting the variable demands of the electrical grid. The use of non-aqueous solvents increases the energy density of these systems, however there are few electrolytes with sufficient solubility and electrochemical stability to function in organic media. In this work, we investigate the potential for Lindqvist polyoxovanadate-alkoxide (POV-alkoxide) clusters to serve as both the anolyte and catholyte for symmetric, non-aqueous redox-flow batteries. POV-alkoxide clusters display numerous, highly reversible redox events, and demonstrate significant solubility and electrochemical stability in organic solvents. These bulky compounds also demonstrate the ability to mitigate species crossover and membrane fouling, thereby improving the energy efficiency and lifetime of flow battery cells. The application of POV-alkoxides as electrolytes in organic media demonstrates that the remarkable redox properties of multimetallic clusters can be harnessed for non-aqueous energy storage applications, and represents an important new direction for the generation of high performance redox-flow batteries.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 9, 2022) — Poor sleep is linked to a wide range of medical issues, including hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity and cancer. With more than a third of U.S. adults reporting insufficient sleep, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe sleep deprivation as a public health epidemic.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 8, 2022) — David Weisrock, professor and chair of the Biology Department in the University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences, has received one of the the 2022 Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor Award. The award recognizes exceptional leadership and support of student researchers.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 8, 2022) — Julia Bursten, associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Philosophy, works together with scientists to help improve scientific methods for their experiments.
By Meredith Weber
Wildcat Network, a new networking platform, has launched and you’re invited to join.
The free online community is exclusive to University of Kentucky alumni, students, parents and campus partners. It provides a directory and mentorship platform and is designed to empower connections across the globe through personal and professional networks.
Wildcat Network serves as a platform for:
