The preparation of nanoscale materials is one of the most exciting areas of modern science and is at the forefront of the quest for a sustainable future.  The field of nanotechnology has generated a great deal of interest primarily because on this size scale numerous new and potentially useful properties have been observed.  In particular, the Richards’ group is working on new synthetic methods to control the size, shape and composition of nanoscale materials and applying them in systems integral to alternative energy technologies, pharmaceuticals, biomass upgrading, batteries, petrochemicals and environmental cleanup. <br/>The ability to manipulate earth abundant metal oxides presents an important potential technology to develop sustainable materials with novel properties. These materials are of interest due to the coordination environments that can be achieved and to the high degree of control over properties that can result from tailoring the exposed facets and from mixing metal oxides. The initial synthesis of MgO and NiO with (111) facets as the primary surface  has been followed by recent work utilizing a multiscale characterization platform to discover the underlying phenomena associated with the electrolytic properties of NiO(111) for Li ion batteries and electrochromics. Joint experimental-theoretical work with collaborators, has led to a report unravelling the potential of (111) polar surfaces for carbon capture. Most recently, <i>in-situ</i> microscopy studies have revealed insights into the NiO active sites and the effects of Fe doping for electrolysis.

Synthesis of faceted metal oxides with unique properties in catalysis and carbon capture

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.