Department News
Kathleen Riley is the recipient of the 2021 Colonial Metal George Benvengo Memorial Student Award. The award recognizes a student’s work in performing fundamental or applied research focusing on any precious metals.
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Thomas Freeman from teaching assistant professor to teaching associate professor.
Through participation in NIIMBL and engagement with partners like NC State’s Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), UNC aims to continue developing technologies and innovations that meet the needs of North Carolina’s biopharmaceutical industry.
Our Spring/Summer 2021 alumni newsletter is here! The newsletter includes updates from the department on the many exciting initiatives and events occurring year-round.
Research
The ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transitions of [Re(dmpe)3]2+ (dmpe = bis-1,2-(dimethylphosphino)ethane) were interrogated using UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and time-dependent density functional theory.
Here we elucidate the fundamental factors controlling the two binding modes and determining which is favored for a given metal–ligand system, using both quantitative density functional theory (DFT) and qualitative molecular orbital (MO) analyses.
We explore a series of regioregular polythiophenes having TCSs and hexyl side chains by varying the ratio of different side chains, from 0 mol % TCSs to 100 mol % TCSs at an increment of 20 mol %.
We designed and synthesized a random copolymer (RP-3T) by inserting unsubstituted terthiophenes into regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)s.
Our Faculty
Faculty in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina help define solutions to the pressing scientific problems of the day. A significant and key component of our department’s strategic plan is to cultivate the next generation of scientific leadership. Faculty, from our assistant professors to our most senior and distinguished colleagues, are international leaders in their subfields, garnering local, national, and international recognition and accolades commensurate with their excellence in research and teaching.
Our Graduate Students
Our graduate students form the next generation of scientific leaders. As a department, we seek to recruit and mentor a diverse cohort of students dedicated to excellence in the classroom and research laboratory. The creativity, drive, collegiality, and accomplishments of our graduate students in tackling difficult scientific problems are significant reasons why UNC is an international leader in chemical research.