Dr. John D. Petersen to Present the 21st Annual Nora Harrington Lecture at Elms
College
The 21st annual Nora Harrington Lecture will be held at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the Alumnae Library Theatre. The speaker is Dr. John D. Petersen, Chancellor and Provost for University Affairs at the University of Connecticut. The title of the lecture is
“Photochemistry and Polymetallic Complexes: Possible Route to Solar Energy Conversion”
Abstract
Transition metal complexes, because they absorb visible light, have the potential to be used in solar energy conversion schemes. In the last 10 years, there has been a substantial of research effort placed upon harnessing the excited states of these complexes. A major constraint in these studies is the difficulty in generating a single system that can both function as the absorber of visible light and undergo a useful chemical reaction. In recent years, we have prepared a variety of multimetal complexes that bring a variety of properties to a single molecular unit. Thus, we may have one metal center that functions as a light absorbing (or antenna) portion of the molecule and another that undergoes usable photochemical reactivity. The difficulty in these systems is being able to design and prepare molecules in which the communicative abilities of the fragments enable one to harness the absorbed energy in a useful fashion. The presentation will focus on multi-metal systems that either generate sustained charge separation, mimicking the primary process of photosynthesis, or photochemically produce non-polluting fuels, such as molecular hydrogen, in a catalytic process. This discussion will also include the design and preparation of these multi-metal systems as well as their characterization and the study of their properties.
Prior to coming to the University in June 2000, Dr. Petersen was Dean of the College of Science and Professor of Chemistry at Wayne State University from 1994-2000. Previously he held positions as Department Head, Department of Chemistry, and Associate Dean for Research, College of Sciences at Clemson University (1983–1993) and Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Kansas State University (1975-1980). He received his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from University of California (Santa Barbara) and his BS in Chemistry from California State University (Los Angeles). Dr. Petersen received his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from University of California (Santa Barbara) and his BS in Chemistry from California State University (Los Angeles).
The Nora Harrington Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Valley section of the American Chemical Society and the Elms College Chemistry Department. The lecture series was inaugurated in 1983 to honor the 32 years of teaching service of Sr. Nora Harrington to Elms College. A Social Hour, featuring wine and hors d'oeuvres is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Fontbonne Room of Mary Dooley College Center. The Social Hour is free to CVS members and invited guests. A reception will immediately follow the lecture.
DIRECTIONS TO ELMS COLLEGE
Elms College campus map: http://www.elms.edu/about/map.htm
Massachusetts Turnpike- East or West
Leave the Massachusetts Turnpike at Exit 4 (West Springfield). Take Rte. 91 South. Leave at
Exit 12 to Rte. 391 North (Chicopee). Continue with directions listed below.*
Rte. 91 South
Take Rte. 91 South. Leave at Exit 12 to Rte. 391 North. Follow directions listed below. *
Rte. 91 North
Take Rte 91 North Exit at Rte. 391 North (First exit after Main Street, Springfield exit). Follow
directions listed below. *
*Take Exit 2 to Center Street. At the end of exit ramp turn right, go through the traffic light and
take your first right, this is South Street. Continue up the hill through next traffic light and take
second right onto Grant Street. Follow Grant Street into college parking lot.