Department of Chemistry Seminar – Dr. Damien Culver

About the event

Speaker: Dr. Damien Culver, Ames National Laboratory

Host: Dr. Jim Boncella

Title: From Molecular Design to Surface Chemistry: Tackling Challenges in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Abstract

Catalysis sits at the heart of modern chemistry, yet designing heterogeneous catalysts with the precision of molecular systems remains a grand challenge. Industrial catalysts often waste active metal sites and struggle with selectivity, while molecular catalysts are tunable but lack recyclability and foul reactors. What if we could combine the best of both worlds? In this seminar, I will share how we are bridging molecular design principles with surface chemistry to create catalysts that are both robust and highly selective using surface organometallic chemistry and related concepts. We have designed new hybrid organic-inorganic materials containing phosphorus for the support of zero-valent metals for regio-selective catalysis with high local structure control. We are exploring cationic ruthenium pincer complexes and unlocking new pathways for chemo-selective reactions. We are also re-commissioning zirconium supported on oxides for C-H borylation of molecules often considered unreactive. These advances reveal how surface functionalization and ionic species can dramatically enhance performance, paving the way for catalysts that meet the demands of sustainable energy, and chemical manufacturing.