Daniel Huh

Research

Low-Valent Group 4 Chemistry
Low-valent Zr and Hf complexes are exceedingly rare. We aim to explore new isolatable low-valent Zr and Hf complexes and investigate their electronic structures and reactivities. Developing a new class of stable low-valent Zr and Hf ions could open pathways to new discoveries, such as radical C–C coupling reactions, N₂ and arene reduction, and physical phenomena by harnessing their rarely utilized oxidation states.

Noncovalent Interactions
Non-covalent interactions (NCIs) are pervasive in various chemical fields and are especially important in assessing structure-function relationships. We are interested in employing NCIs in bimetallic systems to better understand fundamental f element electronic structure including mixed-valent f element systems and metal-metal bonding.

Cerium Mediated Photocatalysis
Despite cerium’s classification as a rare-earth metal, cerium is as abundant as cobalt, nickel, and copper and the U.S. Department of Energy designates it as a low supply-risk material. Cerium oxide (CeO2) is a critical material widely used for industrial applications including steam and dry reforming, the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR), and in automotive three-way catalysts (TWC). We are interested in utilizing Ce photocatalysis to affect organic transformations including hydroalkylation using affordable and accessible substrates.

Education

  • Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 2019
  • M.S., Illinois State University, 2015
  • B.A., University of San Diego, 2013