LeRoy Peterson and Kenneth Williams, Francis Marion University, and Hans-Conrad zur Loye, University of South Carolina, are jointly supported for research in organic-inorganic hybrid materials. They will prepare and characterize new ligands derived from bipyridines, incorporate them into new organic-inorganic hybrid materials, investigate new organically templated polyhalobismuthates, and synthesize new II/VI and III/V supertetrahedral clusters.
These hybrid materials often have porous structures that can support catalysts or selectively separate gases. They also show interesting electronic and optical behaviors. This project also builds a collaborative project between a primarily undergraduate institution and a Ph.D. granting institution in South Carolina. Undergraduates from Francis Marion University will conduct cutting-edge materials chemistry research and interact with faculty and graduate students at the University of South Carolina. This project will also involve female and African-American students, contributing to a diverse and well-trained future workforce.
