Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David L. A. Scarborough, Rod Hall, Kellie E. N. Vanderkruk
Summary: Inquiry- and context-based learning can enhance student motivation and interest, develop critical thinking skills, and improve assessment outcomes. This study applied IBL research projects in university chemistry courses and incorporated elements of CBL. Informal student surveys showed that the projects improved students' critical thinking, communication, and experimental design skills. Students appreciated the opportunity to delve deep into a single topic and found the projects to be reflective of real scientific work. They also identified areas for improvement in subject administration, marking schemes, and access to resources.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michelle L. Kovarik, Betty Cristina Galarreta, Peter J. Mahon, Daniel A. McCurry, Aren E. Gerdon, Steven M. Collier, Marjorie E. Squires
Summary: The survey of 322 analytical chemistry instructors in Spring 2021 revealed that most courses require students to take two analytical chemistry courses, with over 80% also requiring an analytical lab course. Calibration methods were rated as the most important topic, with many other key topics being taught in required courses and hands-on laboratories.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amber M. Hupp
Summary: This paper describes a problem set activity focused on applying chemometric methods to analyze biodiesel-diesel blended fuels. The activity was conducted in upper-level analytical elective courses for junior and senior level students. The students were tasked with analyzing a data set using principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and k-nearest neighbors. The purpose of this activity was to provide hands-on experience with chemometric methods for analyzing large data sets.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kathryn L. Kapp, Rena A. S. Robinson, Susan Verberne-Sutton, Kaitlyn E. Stepler
Summary: Proteomics is a rapidly growing field that studies the set of proteins in an organism, tissue, or cell, and can provide insights into biological questions. However, it is not fully integrated into undergraduate chemistry curriculum due to lack of expertise, expensive instrumentation, and time constraints. A virtual proteomics module was developed to introduce undergraduates to proteomics without the need for expensive equipment. The module improved knowledge and interest in proteomics among students and successfully implemented in both laboratory and lecture settings.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ashley R. Gouger, Jaime E. Mirowsky
Summary: Traditional laboratory courses focus on basic skills but lack critical thinking and independence. Project-based learning (PBL) is being used to encourage students to think and collaborate. In an Analytical Chemistry course, a PBL experience was implemented with a two-tiered approach to teach practical skills and complete research projects. Students reported increased confidence in lab, research, report writing, and presentation skills after completing the PBL.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Samer Doughan, Anna Shahmuradyan
Summary: Advancements in technology have created a demand for STEM expertise in the workforce, leading to changes in educational curricula. Postsecondary institutions are incorporating project-based learning, course-based undergraduate research experiences, and process-oriented guided-inquiry learning to prepare students for STEM careers. This article introduces a project-based activity in the second-year analytical chemistry laboratory, allowing students to design and conduct experiments to quantify analytes in real-life samples. Through this experience, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, creativity, self-directed learning, collaboration, and communication skills.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Samer Doughan, Anna Shahmuradyan
Summary: Advancements in technology have led to changes in the workforce and increased demand for STEM expertise. In response, curricula have evolved to emphasize critical thinking and communication skills. Project-based learning, course-based undergraduate research experiences, and process-oriented guided-inquiry learning provide students with opportunities to apply scientific knowledge. This article introduces a project-based activity in the second-year analytical chemistry laboratory, where students design and conduct experiments to quantify analytes in real-life samples.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michaela Kuchynka, Hana Holcova Polanska, Jaromir Gumulec, Viktor Kanicky, Tomas Vaculovic
Summary: A new experiment involving LA-ICP-MS was designed for chemistry undergraduate students, providing them with information on the amount and distribution of elements in a sample. Using a thin section of mouse tissue as a model sample, the students determined the distribution and quantity of essential elements Zn, Cu, and Pt.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hugo Y. Samayoa-Oviedo, Julia Laskin
Summary: This paper describes a project implemented in an honors section of an upper-level analytical chemistry undergraduate course, in which students designed an experiment to compare the performance of two analytical techniques in determining the amount of ascorbic acid in a commercial sample. The project consisted of three stages, and students reported that it had a positive impact on their scientific skills. It allowed them to investigate new analytical approaches, propose their own experimental procedures, and evaluate the merits of each technique.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaitlyn G. Dutton, Mark C. Lipke
Summary: Frost diagrams illustrate the aqueous reduction potentials and thermodynamic tendencies of different oxidation states of an element. The most stable oxidation state of an element depends on specific redox conditions, and confusion arises from contradictory conventions for labeling the y-axis of these diagrams. Interactive Frost diagrams demonstrate the conditional dependence of the relative stabilities of each oxidation state, aiding in clarifying common points of confusion.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
K. M. Seaton, A. Stockton, C. O'Mahony
Summary: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful separation tool suitable for undergraduate laboratories; conducting experiments using CE-LIF helps students understand and apply principles of analytical chemistry, providing practical experience while easily adaptable to dry labs and online formats.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
K. Rohini Das, M. Jinish Antony
Summary: Fluorescent indicators were developed for detecting endpoint in microscale redox titration. The indicators effectively reduced experiment time and chemical usage, providing students with an opportunity to practice green chemistry. The precision and accuracy of fluorescent indicators were confirmed, making them beneficial for volumetric estimation of ferrous ions in microscale quantities.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mark E. Wolf, J. Widener Norris, Herb Fynewever, Justin M. Turney, Henry F. Schaefer
Summary: Computational chemistry has become a ubiquitous pillar in modern chemical research, and its importance in the undergraduate curriculum is growing. However, there is a lack of focus on the reliability of computational results and the constraints of computational scaling. This article presents an undergraduate lab exercise that uses ab initio methods to predict the combustion energy of methane, and introduces cost-saving measures and techniques. The exercise aims to teach students the skills of judging, selecting, and justifying different computational models in a cost-effective and accurate manner.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elizabeth Stippell, Alexey V. Akimov, Oleg V. Prezhdo
Summary: We present an educational tool for upper-level undergraduate quantum chemistry or quantum physics courses that utilizes a symbolic approach using the PySyComp Python library. This tool covers both time-independent and time-dependent quantum chemistry, providing a simple extension of classical dynamics to capture essential quantum effects. Through the PySyComp library, students can compute various concepts related to the fundamental postulates of quantum mechanics and experiment with simple models to explore key quantum concepts, such as zero-point energy, tunneling, and decoherence.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Megan C. Connor, Justin M. Pratt, Jeffrey R. Raker
Summary: Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are a promising approach for incorporating inquiry-based instruction into the undergraduate chemistry laboratory curriculum. The study findings indicate that faculty members who implement CUREs place greater emphasis on specific instructional goals and are associated with certain instructional and departmental characteristics.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Aleksandra N. Koreshkova, Vipul Gupta, Anton Peristyy, Rafal J. Wrobel, Brett Paull, Pavel N. Nesterenko
Summary: The adsorption and chromatographic properties of oxidized and hydrogenated high pressure and high temperature synthesized diamond were studied using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that both adsorbents had moderate polarity and a mixed-mode retention mechanism. Unexpectedly, hydrogenated diamond exhibited significant anion-exchange properties under acidic conditions and cation-exchange properties under alkaline conditions, while only cation-exchange selectivity was observed for oxidized diamond across the entire pH range.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shichao Ding, Jordan Alysia Barr, Zhaoyuan Lyu, Fangyu Zhang, Maoyu Wang, Peter Tieu, Xin Li, Mark H. Engelhard, Zhenxing Feng, Scott P. Beckman, Xiaoqing Pan, Jin-Cheng Li, Dan Du, Yuehe Lin
Summary: The introduction of phosphorus into Fe-N-C single-atom catalysts enhances the peroxidase-like activity, showing excellent selectivity and stability. A 1D carbon nanowire catalyst with enriched Fe-N-4 active sites and phosphorus doping is designed and synthesized, and it is employed in an enzyme cascade platform for highly sensitive colorimetric detection of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhun Dong, Ahmad Mukhtar, Thomas Ludwig, Sneha A. Akhade, ShinYoung Kang, Brandon Wood, Katarzyna Grubel, Mark Engelhard, Tom Autrey, Hongfei Lin
Summary: This study investigates the kinetics of surface-functionalized Pd on carbon catalysts for formate dehydrogenation and the impact of O-functional groups. The study shows that O-functional groups play critical roles in dispersing Pd nanoparticles and decreasing the activation energy, while C-O groups hinder the formation of metallic Pd.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ewa C. E. Ronnebro, Mark Engelhard, Danny Edwards, Katarzyna Grubel, Anthony Guzman, Randall Storms
Summary: The coating of metal specimens affects the hydrogen gettering performance. This study evaluated the role of post-plating heat treatments on gettering rates, surface composition, and texture. It was found that the pre-heat treatment in air before activation is necessary to avoid slower gettering rates.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Jia, Ju-Myung Kim, Peiyuan Gao, Yaobin Xu, Mark H. Engelhard, Bethany E. Matthews, Chongmin Wang, Wu Xu
Summary: This study systematically investigates and compares localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) based on five different solvents in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The unique solvation structure of LHCEs facilitates the formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphite anode, enabling previously incompatible solvents to achieve reversible lithiation/delithiation. The study also reveals that the long-term cyclability of LIBs can be improved by introducing additives into LHCEs, which results in effective SEIs and cathode electrolyte interphases (CEIs).
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Physical
Abraham Burleigh, Miu Lun Lau, Megan Burrill, Daniel T. Olive, Jonathan G. Gigax, Nan Li, Tarik A. Saleh, Frederique Pellemoine, Sujit Bidhar, Min Long, Kavin Ammigan, Jeff Terry
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Abraham Burleigh, Miu Lun Lau, Megan Burrill, Daniel T. Olive, Jonathan G. Gigax, Nan Li, Tarik A. Saleh, Frederique Pellemoine, Sujit Bidhar, Min Long, Kavin Ammigan, Jeff Terry
Summary: We developed an automated tool, Nanoindentation Neo package, using a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to analyze nanoindentation load-displacement curves based on the Oliver-Pharr method. For specific materials like polycrystalline isotropic graphites, Least Squares Fitting (LSF) may not provide accurate fit parameters due to the unique shape of unloading curves. To address this issue, we extended our general materials characterization tool Neo to fit nanoindentation data, resulting in meaningful fit parameters obtained with minimal user input.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Konstantin Khivantsev, Nicholas R. Jaegers, Hristiyan A. Aleksandrov, Inhak Song, Xavier Isidro Pereira-Hernandez, Mark H. Engelhard, Jinshu Tian, Linxiao Chen, Debora Motta Meira, Libor Kovarik, Georgi N. Vayssilov, Yong Wang, Janos Szanyi
Summary: Atom trapping leads to catalysts with atomically dispersed Ru1O5 sites on (100) facets of ceria, showing excellent activity in catalytic NO oxidation and high NOx storage properties. The Ru1O5 sites exhibit higher stability during calcination and the Ru1/CeO2 catalyst is stable during continuous cycling and in the presence of moisture. In addition, the catalyst shows excellent reactivity for NO reduction by CO at low temperatures. This study highlights the applicability of novel ceria-based single-atom catalysts in NO and CO abatement.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Guangxia Feng, Hao Jia, Yaping Shi, Xu Yang, Yanliang Liang, Mark H. Engelhard, Ye Zhang, Chaojie Yang, Kang Xu, Yan Yao, Wu Xu, Xiaonan Shan
Summary: Reflection interference microscopy enables real-time imaging of the formation and evolution of the solid-electrolyte interphase in batteries, providing valuable insights into its structure and dynamics. The imaging reveals the stratified structure of the interphase, with an inner inorganic layer, an interfacial electrified double layer, and an outer organic-rich layer that is reversible with cycling. The thicknesses of the interphase subcomponents show an inverse correlation, indicating the influence of the inner layer on the formation of the outer layer and lithium nucleation.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vanessa Lebarbier Dagle, Gregory Collinge, Mohammed Rahmana, Austin Winkelman, Wenda Hu, Jian Zhi Hu, Libor Kovarik, Mark Engelhard, Jennifer Jocz, Yong Wang, Mal-Soon Lee, Vassiliki-Alexandra Glezakou, Debmalya Ray, Roger Rousseau, Robert Dagle
Summary: This study reports on a Cu/ZrO2/SBA-16 catalyst with remarkable olefins selectivity and enhanced stability compared to the Ag/ZrO2/SBA-16 catalyst. Replacing Ag with Cu shifts the reaction pathway of crotonaldehyde hydrogenation, leading to the formation of butyraldehyde. Experimental and computational tools were used to verify the performance and stability advantage of the Cu/ZrO2/SBA-16 catalyst.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianghao Zhang, Wenda Hu, Binbin Qian, Houqian Li, Berlin Sudduth, Mark Engelhard, Lian Zhang, Jianzhi Hu, Junming Sun, Changbin Zhang, Hong He, Yong Wang
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate that coordinating Pd with alkenyl-type ligands creates an electron-rich environment for selective hydrogenation. The method of forming homogeneous-like Pd catalyst structure with noble metals is crucial for inhibiting side reactions in hydrotreating processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Robert F. Hansen, Evan Z. Dalton, Rebecca B. Abney, Mark H. Engelhard, Gerardo Castillo Valdes, Sarah D. Burton, Rosalie K. Chu, Daniel P. Veghte, Swarup China, Yaroslav Losovyj, John B. Cliff, Jonathan D. Raff
Summary: Organicnitrate ester compounds (RONO2) act as sinks for nitrogen oxides (NO x & EQUIV;NO + NO2) and play a crucial role in the formation of ozone and organic aerosols in the lower atmosphere. This study investigates the production of RONO2 in organic aerosols through aqueous phase reactions involving nitronium (NO2 (+)) and humic and fulvic acids. The results provide evidence that NO2 (+) targets the lipid fraction of organic matter and forms stable RONO2 compounds through reactions with terminal alcohols (ROH) and alkenes.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Martin Weiser, Matthew J. Olszta, Mark H. Engelhard, Zihua Zhu, Daniel K. Schreiber
Summary: The transport paths of oxygen during intergranular oxidation in binary Ni-Cr were studied using electron microscopy, atom probe tomography (APT), secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and oxygen tracer exchange experiments. The selective oxidation of Cr was isolated by performing oxidation with a CO/CO2 gas mixture. The results reveal nanometer-scale details of passivation and penetrative intergranular oxidation processes, as well as preferred transport paths at the oxide/alloy interface.
NPJ MATERIALS DEGRADATION
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Michael J. Taylor, Hoshin Kim, William Kew, Amity Andersen, Arunima Bhattacharjee, Mark H. Engelhard, Christopher R. Anderton
Summary: In beam-based ionization methods, the substrate plays a crucial role in the desorption mechanism of molecules from surfaces. Atomistic simulations combined with density functional theory calculations were used to study the desorption of a sphingolipid from a model surface. The results provide insights into the effects of biointerfacial lipid ordering on SIMS imaging.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xia Cao, Yaobin Xu, Lianfeng Zou, Jie Bao, Yunxiang Chen, Bethany E. Matthews, Jiangtao Hu, Xinzi He, Mark H. Engelhard, Chaojiang Niu, Bruce W. Arey, Chunsheng Wang, Jie Xiao, Jun Liu, Chongmin Wang, Wu Xu, Ji-Guang Zhang
Summary: The calendar life of Lithium Metal Batteries (LMBs) can be significantly improved by forming a stable Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer on the surface of Li metal anodes. The stability and reusability of this SEI during repeated lithium stripping/deposition processes have been studied using in situ electron microscopy. LMBs stored under fully charged or fully discharged conditions exhibit longer calendar life.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
