PhD defenses.

Electronics 3D Printing for Biocatalysis and the Modern Chemical Biology Laboratory

Abstract: Modern biocatalysis relies on enzyme immobilization to operate at scale. Enzyme immobilization requires extensive optimization that is both time consuming and expensive. To solve this problem, a suite of 3D-printed tools was developed to miniaturize and parallelize immobilization experiments. In addition to 3D printing for biocatalysis, this work explores the use of microcontrollers to reduce the burden of repetitive laboratory tasks through automation. An electronic circuit was developed to actively protect oil-sealed vacuum pumps without human intervention.

Cross-Electrophile Coupling Reactions of Alkyl Carbinol Derivatives for the Synthesis of Cyclopropanes

Abstract: Traditional methods to perform cyclopropane synthesis typically utilize carbenoid intermediates or other nucleophiles reacting with olefins to form two C–C bonds in a single reaction. In order to expand the chemical space of these syntheses, it is necessary to find orthogonal techniques that offer new ways to access similar products and stereochemical outcomes as these methods. One way to accomplish this is by using alcohols, one of the most prevalent functional groups in chemistry, as a starting material.

Development of Fluorescence Microscopy Methods for Investigations of Polymer-Catalyst Dynamics and Polymer Molecular Weight

Abstract: Fluorescence microscopy offers chemists the ability to obtain subensemble information about synthetic reactions that would otherwise be obscured by the ensemble-averaging effects inherent to traditional analytical techniques. An important subset of studies that are possible through fluorescence microscopy is the investigation of polymerization reactions. These reactions have been key to produce items such as plastic bottles, electronic devices, resins, and clothing.

Development of a new transition metal electrocatalyst for nitrous oxide reduction

Abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that is isoelectronic to CO2. Few transition metal electrocatalysts for N2O reduction have been described. In this defense, I will present my work to develop a nitrous oxide reduction electrocatalyst from a platinum CO2 reduction. Catalytic reduction of N2O was confirmed through electrolysis. Key intermediates and the rate-determining step were identified.

Investigations into Redox Carriers for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Concentration

Abstract: The development of carbon dioxide capture and concentration technologies is vital to mitigate anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Nearly all of the illustrative mitigation pathways to decarbonization depend upon CO2 capture. Current state-of-the-art technologies for carbon capture are predominantly thermal based. However, the practical applications of this technology have been limited by low overall energetic inefficiency due to Carnot limitations and thermal sorbent degradation.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - PhD defense