We are pursuing several research fronts rooted in synthetic and physical inorganic chemistry, with emphasis on compounds of importance in electronic and opto-electronic materials, biomimetic chemistry, and energy science.

Our effort in the area of carbon-rich organometallic materials focuses on the synthesis and characterization of conjugated Ru₂-alkynyl compounds. For their materials application, we are also interested in surface immobilization, SAM formation, current-voltage (I-V) characteristics at nanoscale, and second and third order optical nonlinearity of these compounds. Specific aims include:

1. Molecular wires and devices based on monodisperse oligomeric Ru₂-alkynyls
2. Peripheral covalent modifications for supramolecular assembly of metal alkynyl compounds
3. Conjugated and non-conjugated dendrimers of a Ru₂ core for photovoltaic application
4. Hierarchical assemblies of nanoparticles with Ru₂-oligoyne linkers
5. Bioconjugates of Ru₂-alkynyl as sensors (DNA chips) for genomic applications

We are interested in biomimetic chemistry of organophosphorous compounds, including functional models of organophosphorous hydrolases and recognition of phosphate containing metabolites. Also of interest is green oxygenation chemistry of organic sulfides. Specific aims include:

1.  Detoxification and decontamination protocols for both G- and V-type chemical warfare agents
2. Selective binding of phosphate mono- and di-esters with bimetallic complexes
3. Expedient oxygenation of organic sulfides with inexpensive catalysts
4. Effective removal of dibenzothiophene from fossil fuels via oxygenation-extraction strategy

Education

Selected Publications

• Yang Zhang and Tong Ren, Silica Supported Ruthenium Oxide Nanoparticulates as Efficient Catalysts for Water Oxidation. Chem. Commun. 2012 , 48, 11005 -11007.
• Steven P. Cummings, Julia Savchenko and Tong Ren, Functionalization of Flat Si Surfaces with Inorganic Compounds - Towards Molecular CMOS Hybrid Devices. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2011 , 255, 1587-1602.
• William P. Forrest, Zhi Cao, Phillip E. Fanwick, Kerry M. Hassell, and Tong Ren, Bimetallic Organometallic Compounds of -geminal-Diethynylethene (gem-DEE) Ligands: trans-Ru2(DMBA)4(gem-DEE)2. Organometallics 2011 , 30, 2075-2078.
• Bin Xi, Isiah P. C. Liu, Guo-Lin Xu, M. M. R. Choudhuri, Maria C. DeRosa, Robert J. Crutchley, Tong Ren, Modulation of Electronic Couplings within Metal-Polyyne Frameworks. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011 , 133, 15094-15104.