Theses

Theses and dissertations are housed in the open-access digital repository of the KU Library upon completion.
 
2022
 
Jonah Stiel - B.S with Honors in Chemistry
The End of the Rhodium: Synthesis, Characterization, and Redox Chemistry of Manganese and Rhodium Complexes Supported by Unorthodox Diimine Ligands
Thesis defended 13 May 2022 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/32767
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, and J. Tunge
 
Emma Cosner - B.S with Honors in Chemistry
Three Elements Walk Into a Glovebox: Promoting Uncommon Redox Chemistry with Heterobimetallic Rhodium, Samarium, and Europium Complexes
Thesis defended 6 May 2022 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/32762
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, and C. Berrie
 
Wade Henke - Ph.D. in Chemistry (Honors)
Mapping Intermediates in Hydrogen Evolution with [Cp*Rh] Catalysts and Carbon Monoxide Release from [Mn(CO)3] Complexes
Thesis defended 12 April 2022
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, C. Elles, W. Thompson, and Z. Boskovic
 
Julie Hopkins Leseberg - Ph.D. in Chemistry (Honors)
Redox Chemistry, Bimetallic Effects, and Ligand Design for Rhodium, Chromium, and Cerium Complexes
Thesis defended 29 March 2022
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, C. Berrie, A. Teator, and A. Allgeier
 
2021
 
Chelsea Comadoll - Ph.D. in Chemistry (Honors)
[Cp*Rh] Monohydrides Supported by Diphosphine Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifrequency Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies
Thesis defended 6 December 2021
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, H. Malinakova, A. Teator, and Z. Boskovic
 
Amit Kumar - Ph.D. in Chemistry (Honors)
On the Redox Tuning of 3d and 5f Metal Complexes with Lewis Acids
Thesis defended 2 June 2021
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, T. Jackson, J. Tunge, and A. Allgeier
 
2020
 
Yun Peng - Ph.D. in Chemistry
On the Nature of Hydrogen Evolution by Half-Sandwich Rhodium Complexes
Thesis defended 10 July 2020
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, T. Jackson, W. Thompson, and J. Bravo-Suarez
 
David Sconyers - Ph.D. in Chemistry (Honors)
I. Piezoelectric Gravimetry as a Probe of Interfacial Phenomena Impacting Molecular Electrocatalysis. II. Intensification of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction in Pressure-Tunable CO2-eXpanded Electrolytes.
Thesis defended 15 April 2020
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, T. Jackson, K. Leonard, and P. Dhar
 
2019
 
Shaun Kelsey - B.S. with Honors in Chemistry
An Adventure in Space (Group) and (Reaction) Time: Divergent Synthesis of Heterobimetallic Complexes of Zinc with Lewis Acids
Thesis defended 21 May 2019 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29331
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, D. Benson, and J. Slusky
 
Emily Boyd - B.S. with Honors in Chemistry
If It’s Not Broke, Break It, and Then Break It Again: Understanding [Cp*Rh] Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution by Investigation of Remarkably Inert Analogues
Thesis defended 13 May 2019 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29290
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, and T. Jackson
 
Will Moore - B.S. with Honors in Chemistry
The Rhodium Less Traveled: Understanding the Influence of Bipyridyl Ligand Substituents on [Cp*Rh] Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution
Thesis defended 3 May 2019 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29330
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, and C. Elles
 
Katie Johnson - M.S. in Chemistry (Honors)
Surface Immobilization and Electrochemical Studies of Molecular Lanthanide and Actinide Complexes
Thesis defended 27 March 2019 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30211
Committee members: J. Blakemore, M. Barybin, and K. Bowman-James
 
2017
 
Wade Henke - B.S. with Honors in Chemistry
Opposites Attract: Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Electron-Rich and Electron-Poor Rhodium Complexes for Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis
Thesis defended 12 May 2017 - http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26441
Committee members: J. Blakemore, D. Benson, C. Elles, and T. Jackson
 
2012
 
James Blakemore - Ph.D. in Chemistry (Yale University)
Chemical and Electrochemical Studies of Water-Oxidation Catalysis
Thesis defended 29 March 2012 - http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/10560153
Committee members: G. Brudvig, R. Crabtree, and A. Valentine
 

Recent News

26–30 June 2022 – James and Riddhi attend the 29th Rare Earth Research Conference (RERC29) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James delivered an invited talk on the first morning of the meeting on the topic of "Redox Tuning of Tripodal Cerium Complexes with Secondary Metal Cations," and Riddhi was awarded a Best Poster Prize for her work on "Electrochemical Activation of the Uranyl Ion." Thanks to Prof. Eric Schelter and Dr. Marta Guron (U. Penn) for organizing such a great meeting—a truly inspirational experience!

6 June 2022 – An exciting summer of research is underway in the Blakemore Group–our seventh here at KU! Welcome to our newest group members: Fynn Cooper, an incoming graduate student; Cecilia Paranjothi, a rising sophomore at KU;  and Natalie Lind, a visiting summer REU student from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Let the fun begin!

6 May 2022 – Emma Cosner has been named the recipient of the Class of 1913 Award. This prize, which is one of the prestigious University Awards, is granted annually to two graduating students “who, by their evidenced intelligence, devotion to their studies, and personal character, give promise of such usefulness to society.” The central criterion for this award is a stellar academic record, making Emma a very deserving recipient. Emma has been conducting research in our group for over three years, and has been co-mentored throughout that time by Dr. Julie Leseberg. Congratulations, Emma!

Funding Sources

Our work is supported by the US Department of Energy, US National Science Foundation, the Chevron Phillips Chemical, Lam Research Corp., and the Spring Creek Fund.

Quick Links