Millennium Café: Designing Polymer-based Sustainable Catalysts

Date and Time
Location
3rd Floor Café Commons of the Millennium Science Complex
Presenters
Shweta Gaikwad

Nature’s photosynthesis shows how light can efficiently power complex chemical reactions—a concept that inspires modern photoredox catalysis. While small molecule photocatalysts have revolutionized organic synthesis, major bottlenecks remain in the efficiency and purification of these processes. We have developed novel homogeneous, recyclable polymer-based photocatalysts for various applications. Here, I will discuss our organic and metal-based homogeneous polymer-based photocatalysts that embrace some key design elements to accelerate photoredox reactions offering a promising route toward more sustainable chemical synthesis.

The Millennium Café runs 10-11 am in the 3rd floor Café Commons of the Millennium Science Complex building.  Join researchers from across campus for a stellar cup of coffee and two <10 min interdisciplinary talks.