When
Where
The Wyant College of Optical Sciences Student Journal club will be hosting its third meeting this Friday at 4:30pm MST in Meinel 307. There will be pizza (Vegetarian Options Available) from Trident Pizza Pub and Coffee provided!
Presenter:
Our presenter this week is a 4th year PhD Candidate, Laura Sawyer. She is part of the Ultrafast Nonlinear Spectroscopy Group, led by Dr. Vanessa Huxter. Prior to coming to the University of Arizona, she received her Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from Western New England University. She currently leads the Optical Science Graduate Recruitment Team and will be presenting a talk titled, "Understanding the Dynamics of Photoredox Catalysis using Lasers"
Abstract:
Over recent years, light-mediated catalysis has taken a front seat as a powerful strategy for the chemical activation of small molecules. The field of photocatalysis includes a wide range of potential activation pathways in which light is used to drive the catalytic process. Absorption of light brings the catalyst into an excited state, increasing the potential to undergo chemical transformation that would otherwise be difficult or even unattainable. Despite wide application in fields such as drug discovery, green chemistry and renewable chemistry, the mechanisms of photoredox catalysis remain poorly understood. Optical ultrafast spectroscopic techniques can be used to track processes central to photoredox catalysis such as charge transfer, intersystem crossing, and internal conversion. By applying ultrafast optical techniques to photoredox catalytic systems, we can gain insight into its mechanisms by following the evolution of the catalytic excited state. Using time correlated single photon counting, transient absorption spectroscopy, and two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, we can map the mechanisms of the photoredox catalysis, including the effects of excited state radicals, dimerization, and solvated electrons in photoredox catalysis cycles.
Recording/Stream
The meeting will be streamed and recorded via Zoom but we encourage you to come in person as we believe the questions/discussion are the most valuable component of these meetings. If you would like to request the Zoom information, please email: journalclub@optics.arizona.edu
Future Presenters
If you are interested in presenting at a future meeting we invite you to fill out our google form!
You are welcome to present your own research, a scientific publication you found particularly interesting, or even a specific laboratory/computational technique which you think other students would find useful. The goal is to help you sharpen your presentation skills while simultaneously broadening our knowledge of the field in a way that classes can't quite match.