Daniel G. Nocera
Encyclopedia
Daniel George Nocera is an American chemist
and university professor.
(magna cum laude) from Rutgers University
in 1979. He received a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology
in 1984, after working with Professor Harry B. Gray
studying the spectroscopy
, electrochemistry
, and photochemistry
of polynuclear metal-metal bonded complexes. He joined the faculty of Michigan State University
in 1984 as assistant professor, and became a professor at MSU in 1990. He moved to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
as a professor of chemistry in 1997. He is presently the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy and Professor of Chemistry at MIT.
Nocera and his researchers received media attention beginning in 2007 when he declared that a better understanding of the photosynthesis
process could lead to economical storage of solar energy as chemical fuel.
He later announced that his group had developed a highly efficient anode electrocatalyst
(cobalt phosphate) for use in electrolysis of water
employing inexpensive materials. His work on artificial photosynthesis
centers around the basic mechanisms of energy conversion in biology and chemistry, particularly in the theory of proton coupled electron transfer
. He is also the director of the Solar Revolution Project at MIT which seeks to create innovations in photocatalytic water splitting
towards the use of solar energy in large scale, mainstream applications.
In October 2010, Nocera signed with the Tata Group
of India to commercialize his research.
Nocera has published over 225 papers
. He has served on scientific advisory boards and editorial boards of several large corporations. He was the inaugural editor of Inorganic Chemistry Communications, and was the inaugural chair of the editorial board for ChemSusChem.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and university professor.
Career
Nocera received a B.S. degree in ChemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
(magna cum laude) from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1979. He received a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in 1984, after working with Professor Harry B. Gray
Harry B. Gray
Harry Barkus Gray is the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry at California Institute of Technology. He won the Priestley Medal in 1991, Harvey Prize in 2000, The Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry in 2004, and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2004.-Career:Gray received his B.S...
studying the spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
, electrochemistry
Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor and an ionic conductor , and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.If a chemical reaction is...
, and photochemistry
Photochemistry
Photochemistry, a sub-discipline of chemistry, is the study of chemical reactions that proceed with the absorption of light by atoms or molecules.. Everyday examples include photosynthesis, the degradation of plastics and the formation of vitamin D with sunlight.-Principles:Light is a type of...
of polynuclear metal-metal bonded complexes. He joined the faculty of Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1984 as assistant professor, and became a professor at MSU in 1990. He moved to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
as a professor of chemistry in 1997. He is presently the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy and Professor of Chemistry at MIT.
Nocera and his researchers received media attention beginning in 2007 when he declared that a better understanding of the photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
process could lead to economical storage of solar energy as chemical fuel.
He later announced that his group had developed a highly efficient anode electrocatalyst
Electrocatalyst
An electrocatalyst is a catalyst that participates in electrochemical reactions. Catalyst materials modify and increase the rate of chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. Electrocatalysts are a specific form of catalysts that function at electrode surfaces or may be the...
(cobalt phosphate) for use in electrolysis of water
Electrolysis of water
Electrolysis of water is the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen gas due to an electric current being passed through the water.-Principle:...
employing inexpensive materials. His work on artificial photosynthesis
Artificial photosynthesis
Artificial photosynthesis is a chemical process that replicates the natural process of photosynthesis, a process that converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. The term is commonly used to refer to any scheme for capturing and storing the energy from sunlight in...
centers around the basic mechanisms of energy conversion in biology and chemistry, particularly in the theory of proton coupled electron transfer
Proton coupled electron transfer
Proton-coupled electron transfer is a reaction mechanism that is thought to be common in redox reactions. It involves the concerted transfer of an electron and proton to or from a substrate....
. He is also the director of the Solar Revolution Project at MIT which seeks to create innovations in photocatalytic water splitting
Photocatalytic water splitting
Photocatalytic water splitting is the term for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water by directly utilizing the energy from light. Hydrogen fuel production has gained increasing attention as oil and other nonrenewable fuels become increasingly depleted and expensive...
towards the use of solar energy in large scale, mainstream applications.
In October 2010, Nocera signed with the Tata Group
Tata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
of India to commercialize his research.
Awards and honors
- received the American Institute of Chemists Award (1979)
- received the MIT School of Science Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2005)
- received the Eni-Italgas Prize for Energy & the Environment (2005)
- elected to the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
(2005) - received the Inter-American Photochemistry Award in Photochemistry (2006)
- received the first Burghausen Chemistry Award (2007)
- received the American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical SocietyThe American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
Award in Inorganic Chemistry (2009)
Nocera has published over 225 papers
Academic publishing
Academic publishing describes the subfield of publishing which distributes academic research and scholarship. Most academic work is published in journal article, book or thesis form. The part of academic written output that is not formally published but merely printed up or posted is often called...
. He has served on scientific advisory boards and editorial boards of several large corporations. He was the inaugural editor of Inorganic Chemistry Communications, and was the inaugural chair of the editorial board for ChemSusChem.
Innovations
- Synthesis of the first S = 1/2 kagome latticeKagome latticeA kagome lattice is an arrangement of laths composed of interlaced triangles such that each point where two laths cross has four neighboring points...
, regarded as a significant achievement in the field of condensed matter physicsCondensed matter physicsCondensed matter physics deals with the physical properties of condensed phases of matter. These properties appear when a number of atoms at the supramolecular and macromolecular scale interact strongly and adhere to each other or are otherwise highly concentrated in a system. The most familiar...
. His work in 2-D kagome lattices is useful for the study of frustrated magnetismGeometrical frustrationIn condensed matter physics, the term geometrical frustration means a phenomenon in which the geometrical properties of the crystal lattice or the presence of conflicting atomic forces forbid simultaneous minimization of the interaction energies acting at a given site.This may lead to highly...
. - First microfluidic optical chemosensorChemosensorA chemoreceptor, also known as chemosensor, is a sensory receptor that transduces a chemical signal into an action potential. In more general terms, a chemosensor detects certain chemical stimuli in the environment.- Classes :...
- Invention of the Molecular tagging velocimetryMolecular tagging velocimetryMolecular Tagging Velocimetry is a specific form of flow velocimetry, a technique for determining the velocity of currents in fluids such as air and water. In its simplest form, a single "write" laser beam is shot once through the sample space...
(MTV) technique - First direct observation of the zwitterionic excited state
- Hydrogen gas production from acidic solutions using a Rhodium photocatalyst.
Publications
- Nocera has published over 250 scientific papers, which are listed by year on his research group website.
External links
- Nocera at the MIT Chemistry Department Website
- MIT Chemistry Department
- Nocera Group Website
- Daniel Nocera Playlist Appearance on WMBR's Dinnertime Sampler radio show October 6, 2004
- SunCatalytix.com Company website
- PopTech! Dan Nocera: Personalized Energy
- SOLAR ENERGY: CAPTURING THE SUN A 5-day short course Dan Nocera teaches at MIT in August