Research

We are a research group interested in combining supramolecular, inorganic, and materials chemistry to synthesize functional systems that bridge the gap between nanoscale materials and molecular chemistry. Our research is focused at developing new synthetic methodologies to access well-defined nanometer-sized clusters where we can investigate surface structure-function relationships relevant in catalytic and magnetic materials. Other efforts in the Hernández Sánchez (HS) group are aimed at designing and synthesizing structural analogues of carbon nanotubes where exquisite control of the resulting framework allows for properties manipulation.

Students in the HS group will engage in synthetic chemistry and develop familiarity with a range of spectroscopic, electrochemical, crystallographic and magnetic techniques. While rooted in synthetic chemistry, research in the HS group will interface with materials, organic, theory, and physical chemistry.

Within the supramolecular research theme, our group has recently reported on a novel approach to synthesize conjugated molecular nanotubes - that we have termed tubularenes. These seek to create molecular wire-like species. These compounds are conjugated, conformationally rigid, and electroactive. DFT calculations indicate a buildup of strain energy in excess of 90 kcal/mol. The resulting architectures contain large internal void spaces, are fluorescent, and electroactive. This represents the first scaffolding approach that provides conjugated nanotube architectures. Stay tuned for our progress in this area.

Tubularene