(Lecture) High-Symmetry Molecular Architectures: Turning Aesthetics into Stability and Functionality

Topic: High-Symmetry Molecular Architectures: Turning Aesthetics into Stability and Functionality

Speaker: Dr. Aleksandar Kondinski (Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven)

Time: December 19, 2018 (Wednesday) 3:00 p.m.

Venue: 324 lecture hall, No. 2 building, North Science Park, Wushan Campus

Abstract  

The dilemma whether chemists should strive towards preparation of “nature -mimicking” functional assemblies or should they strive towards the preparation of “idealized” molecular architectures with little value besides their aesthetic appeal, has been puzzling many chemists among which the Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann. In this seminar we will reveal how the concepts of high symmetry can affect the discovery of structural trends among molecular metal-oxides and how once employed it leads to allocation of viable synthetic targets with anomalous stabilities and desired functionalities. The seminar touches aspects of cluster isomerism and strain effects rising from the match of two different building blocks. Finally, the seminar reveals how inexpensive resources can be employed in discovery-based learning of complex topics on polyhedral and reticular topologies with chemical relevance.      

Biography

Dr. Aleksandar Kondinski is currently a FWO Postdoctoral Fellow at the Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry (KU Leuven). 

Announced by South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology