Inorganic Chemistry for Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage

The Farnum group is a research lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University focused on the development of inorganic molecules and nanomaterials that address chemical challenges pertaining to solar energy conversion and electrochemical energy storage. Our primary objective is to advance the fundamental knowledge related to homogeneous and heterogeneous electron transfer reactions, and how these reactions can be used effectively in photo/electrochemical applications. Our lab intersects the broad areas of inorganic and physical chemistry where we use a combination of solution and hydrothermal synthetic methods to produce unique and exciting inorganic molecules and solid state nanomaterials and then probe their photochemical, electrochemical, and thermochemical properties. The many techniques used to probe these physical properties include: Electrochemistry (CV, RRD, Impedance), Spectroscopy (UV-Vis, near-IR, FTIR, NMR, EPR, XPS, XRD), and Microscopy (SEM, TEM).

Mission/Inclusion Statement

The Farnum lab is a chemistry research group devoted to advances in fundamental science where we base the merits of student’s research on the quality of their science, and not the color of their skin, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. We are committed to an open and inclusive research environment where all students feel comfortable and welcomed to communicate ideas, inside and outside of science. We feel strongly that group collaboration, unity through diversity, and a desire to help others are the best ways to achieve our research goals.

Recent News

Publication in JACS

In collaboration with the Goldsmith group at Auburn, our JACS publication shows that incorporation of quinol groups into the ligand backbone switches product selectivity from H2O2 to H2O in the reduction of O2 at a molecular cobalt catalyst. More exciting…

Holiday Party 2022

We had our first holiday party at the Farnum house since COVID! It was great to get everyone together as a family to meet the new addition (Adeline). Too bad the US couldn’t pull of the World Cup win.

Publication in Inorganic Chemistry

Congrats to Motiur on publishing his awesome work in Inorganic Chemistry showing the power of Zn-catalysis for aiding in the LCET 2-electron reduction of Ni(IV) to Ni(II). This article was so highly reviewed, it was selected as a Featured Article!

Labsgiving!

The group celebrated Thanksgiving with a Labsgiving food potluck at a local park.

Welcome Maksuda

A warm welcome to Maksuda Parvin as a new graduate student in the group! She comes from Bangladesh and will be working on oxygen reduction catalysis in collaboration with the Goldsmith group. We can’t wait to see all you accomplish!

Publication in ChemElectroChem

Congrats to Amanda for publishing her work in ChemElectroChem and being selected for a cover feature! The work details the lithium dependent electrochemistry of CuCrO2.