Inorganic chemistry, by definition, encompasses the entire periodic table.
Thus, the field is extremely diverse.
From solid-state materials to the inorganic biochemistry of life to
nanotechnology, the research interests of the Purdue inorganic faculty promise
exciting choices for the graduate student.
Organometallic chemistry is represented by research in catalysis,
metal clusters, metal-metal multiply bonded species, and semiconductor surface
chemistry. Examples of ongoing materials
research include conducting polymer and self-assembled monolayer design.
Bioinorganic chemistry
encompasses research into metal-protein and metal-DNA interactions,
biological inorganic materials, electron transfer, and pharmaceutical
design. Research into photochemistry
involves the tuning and modulation of the light emitting properties of
metal-based molecules. Work to
determine the reactivity of main group
species in water, particularly halogen-containing molecules, is being pursued
because of its extreme importance to water purification.
Snapshots of the research carried out by the inorganic division at Purdue
are displayed here.
Facilities
Purdue has, without question, one of the highest concentrations of facilities
available to chemistry graduate students in the United States. Our unique
instrumentation and support is particularly well suited to fostering
cross-disciplinary research.
Many of these facilities are of specific interest to inorganic
graduate students: The Department of Chemistry Laser Facility offers a wide
range of spectroscopic equipment and the assistance of a Ph.D. level staff
member. Our NMR Facility has a wide
range of high field instruments, solid state capabilities, and readily available
expertise and assistance. A large group of chemists and engineers capable of custom
design, construction and maintenance of any piece of chemical instrumentation
staff the Jonathon Amy Laboratory for Chemical Instrumentation. We also have superb
machine shop and glass blowing facilities
in the department. The X-Ray
Crystallography Facility in the Chemistry Department is state of the art and
includes the latest charge coupled device (CCD) technology, allowing for
rapid structure determinations. Further
exemplifying our growth is the newly
founded Purdue Laboratory for Chemical Nanotechnology.
Our departmental Mellon Library of Chemistry is a valuable resource
located within the Wetherill Chemistry Building, and subscribes to the vast
majority of chemical journals available.
Curriculum
Students in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University benefit greatly
from the availability of a wide range of courses related to inorganic chemistry,
including core classes in main group and transition metal chemistry, group
theory and spectroscopy, organometallic chemistry and catalysis, bioinorganic
chemistry, and kinetics, as well as
other areas of chemistry. The wide
diversity of classes reflect the broad range of specialties and research
interests of our faculty. Through
individual choice from amongst such courses, students tailor their
education to their own interests, thereby
obtaining the expertise required in this growing area of chemistry.
Additionally,inorganic division hosts a weekly seminar presented by distinguished visitors and graduate students. The graduate student seminars relate either to their doctoral research or an exciting new development in the inorganic chemistry literature. The inorganic division seminar series ensures that graduate students are up to date with the latest advances across the broad spectrum of inorganic chemistry, an essential base of knowledge for today's job market.
