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Dr. Dwight Seferos
University of Toronto
CANCELLED: Sequence and Shape-Defined Organic Materials
Host: Dr. Loren Kaake
This talk has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule Dr. Seferos in the future. Please attend some of our other talks for the Fall 2024 Seminar Series.
Abstract
During my time as a graduate student and postdoc, I learned a great deal about how the sequence of macromolecule (for example, DNA) could lead to the arrangement of specific shapes (for example, a sphere, plate, etc.) to elicit a range of new properties such as those found in Nature. Here, I will talk about two topics inspired by this work. First, I will describe our work on polymers with absolute control over the molecular weight and sequence. In this effort, we are using light-harvesting polymers and combining them with photochemical reaction centers where we can position the center at any given point along the chain. This has allowed us to investigate energy transfer in ways that were previously not possible with light-harvesting polymers. Second, I will describe our work to control the molecular shape of materials for use in a range of applications. While the chemical unit structures are identical, dimensionality (0D, 1D, 2D…) profoundly influences performance. This has allowed us to improve the performance of certain types of energy storage and related materials. Overall, I will describe our efforts to use synthetic chemistry to develop a range of interesting and potentially useful matter.
Biography
Dwight Seferos is a Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. Seferos received a B.S. in Chemistry from Western Washington University, a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara, and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University before joining the Faculty at Toronto. Research in the Seferos group concerns the design, synthesis, characterization, and device engineering of organic materials and polymers for electronic and optical applications. Much of their work focuses on the creation of new matter that can be used in a range of devices (OLEDs, solar cells, batteries, thermoelectrics, etc.) often leading to a wide range of highly collaborative research activities with diverse groups throughout the world. Seferos has been recognized by many national and international awards, including the DuPont Young Professor Award, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, CSC Strem Chemical Award for Pure or Applied Inorganic Chemistry, ACS Harry Gray Award, E. W. R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, the RSC Rutherford Metal in Chemistry, the CIC Award in Macromolecular Science, and the CSC Award for Excellence in Materials Chemistry.