Friend Lab Harvard University

Methanol photo-coupling on TiO2

Sequential photo-oxidation of methanol to methyl formate on TiO2(110)
Growing role of chemical production in industrial energy demand

http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/energy/energyoutlook
Hollow nanoporous gold microspheres

False-color scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of a hollow nanoporous gold microsphere (scale bar: 1 um).
Metallic silver island on rutile TiO2(110)

Room temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy.
Gold activated by oxygen for synthesis

Schematic mechanism for dimethylformamide synthesis from methanol coupling with dimethyl amine via a (CH3)2N intermediate on Au.

Addressing global challenges in reducing energy costs and in developing alternative energy sources is critical to the future. The research in the Friend group focuses on important catalytic reactions and on making new materials with key chemical functionality by controlling the chemical and physical properties of interfaces.