Category Archives: Research and Publications
The Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center (ICDC), a Department of Energy-sponsored Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC), held its annual All-Hands Meeting at The Saint Paul Hotel on August 15 and 16.
In addition, Prof. Ian Tonks of the University of Minnesota, a recently added principal investigator within the ICDC, gave a workshop on Reaction Mechanisms immediately following the All-Hands Meeting. Laura is the Director of the ICDC. Several members of the Gagliardi group, along with many postdocs and graduate students at the University, are members of the multi-institution ICDC.
A theoretical study was recently performed by Gagliardi group postdoc and Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center (ICDC) scientific coordinator Varinia Bernales, within a collaboration of the members of the ICDC, on the NU-1000 metal-organic framework (MOF).
This study resulted in a major achievement – the discovery that the adsorption processes of glucose and cellobiose on the NU-1000 MOF occur at the hydrophobic sites. Until now, only enzymes have demonstrated the ability to selectively bond the β-linked dimer of glucose (cellobiose), while completely rejecting the bonding of glucose itself. Great work, Varinia!
A collaborative team of researchers that includes Laura, along with Eray Aydil and Chris Leighton from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science (CEMS), have received a research grant to explore pyrite iron disulfide as a low-cost solution for renewable electricity.
This team was one of four at the University of Minnesota to receive a $717,360 grant from the Institute on the Environment’s Renewable Electricity for Minnesota’s Future grant program.
The Spring 2016 issue of the Frontiers in Energy Research newsletter features the work of the Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center, of which Laura is the Director.
An article, titled “Five Cents About Nickel Catalysts,” was co-authored by Gagliardi group postdoc and ICDC scientific coordinator Varinia Bernales.