Hani M. El-Kaderi
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Assistant professor |
Education
B.Sc., Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 1999
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Wayne State University, 2005
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Los Angeles, 2005-07
Research interests
Research in Hani El-Kaderi’s group entails the design and synthesis of low density and highly porous polymers for use in a wide range of applications including hydrogen storage, catalysis, and sensing. In particular, we are interested in developing new methods to dope porous organic and inorganic polymers with various metals and study their impact on hydrogen storage and various catalytic processes. For example, recent theoretical studies on metal-doped fullerenes showed that such structures exhibit significant hydrogen uptake and therefore represent good candidates as host-materials for hydrogen for future use in clean energy applications. However, synthetic routes to such materials are very challenging and this area remains fairly undeveloped. The group will focus on new synthetic strategies to overcome metal-cluster formation and uncontrolled doping levels that can lead to a significantly improved H2 uptake. Our research in this field requires students to master several skills including material design and modeling, synthesis of organic and inorganic compounds, and a variety of characterization techniques including NMR, PXRD, SEM, TEM, etc.
Another research domain of interest is the use of designed polydentate ligands to stabilize metals from the d- and f-blocks for use in catalytic processes such as ethylene polymerization or the activation and functionalization of small molecules like CO2 and N2. Research projects in this area will focus on the design of new pincer- and ansa-type ligands to allow for electronic and steric profile manipulation about metal centers to tune their reactivity. In addition, the inclusion of tethered functional groups in the ligand backbone should provide convenient routes for catalyst immobilization on surfaces for catalyst recovery and reuse.
Selected publications
- El-Kaderi, H. M.; Hunt, J. R.; Mendoza-Cortés, J. L.; Côté, A. P.; Taylor, R. E.; O’Keeffe, M.; Yaghi, O. M. “Designed Synthesis of 3D Covalent Organic Frameworks,” Science 2007, 316, 268-272. (This work was featured in Chemical & Engineering News Magazine, May 28, 2007.)
- El-Kaderi, H. M.; Heeg, M. J.; Winter, C. H. “Mixed Ligand Complexes of the Heavier Group 2 Elements Containing Pyrazolato and b-Diketiminato Ligand Sets,” Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 11, 2081-2088.
- Päiväsaari, J.; Dezelah IV, C. L.; Back, B.; El-Kaderi, H. M.; Heeg, M. J.; Putkonen, M.; Niinistö, L.; Winter, C. H. “Synthesis, Structure and Properties of Volatile Lanthanide Complexes Containing Amidinate Ligands: Application for Er2O3 Thin Film Growth by Atomic Layer Deposition,” J. Mater. Chem. 2005, 15, 4224-4233.
- El-Kaderi, H. M.; Heeg, M. J.; Winter, C. H. “Sandwich Complexes of the Heavier Alkaline Earth Metals Containing h5-b-Diketiminato Ligand Sets,” Organometallics 2004, 23, 4995-5002.
