Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Title: "The Root and Base of Molecules: Understanding the Reactivity of Free Radicals"
The chemistry of free radicals has attracted much attention due to their importance in biomedical and energy storage applications. In the first part of my talk, I will describe how nitric oxide (NO), an important signaling molecule, communicates with a ubiquitous class of copper centers found in electron-transfer proteins. The reversible interaction of NO with copper represents a further approach available to nature to manage the electron transfer in living systems. In the second part of my talk, I will describe how insights of radical reactivity lead to tackling challenges facing lithium battery technologies, such as cell degradation and cell failure. These valuable knowledges are teaching us how to synthesize stable and flame retarding electrolyte materials for batteries that are in high demand for today’s consumer applications and utility-scale energy storage.
