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​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹FAS faculty members are invited to submit proposals for funding to support their research projects related to the Natural and Experimental Sciences, such as: supporting lab activities; attending training programs; disseminating scholarly and pedagogical products; meeting with collaborators.​

Eligibility: FAS faculty members

Budget: Up to $25,000

Application ​materials: Apply online. Please upload in a single PDF file: 1. Proposal including abstract (no more than 200 words), description of the proposed activity and the expected outcomes (no more than 1000 words), budget and budget narrative (indicating the anticipated use of the requested funds and all funds sought or secured from other sources), and timeline; and 2. Official correspondence from external institutions, when available.
 
Application deadline: October 1; March 15​

​Contact: ³ó²â25°ª²¹³Ü²ú.±ð»å³Ü.±ô²ú​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹

2024-25

• ​Establishment of a Flashphotolysis Lab for Transient Absorption Measurements at AUB
  Tarek Ghaddar, Department of Chemistry
  Mohamad Hmadeh, Department of Chemistry
  
  Photochemistry research plays a crucial role in understanding the fundamental processes governing light-matter interactions and molecular transformations, with applications spanning from renewable energy, materials science, to medicine. Transient absorption spectroscopy (TA), particularly flash photolysis, offers a versatile and cost-effective approach to studying fast transient phenomena. This proposal outlines the establishment of a state-of-the-art flash photolysis laboratory at AUB, dedicated to investigating nanosecond to second timescale transients and kinetics processes during photochemical reactions, with a focus on renewable energy, catalysis, and materials science. The objectives include procuring advanced equipment and instrumentation, investigating transient processes in catalytic systems relevant to renewable energy applications, and collaborating with interdisciplinary researchers to translate fundamental science into practical solutions. The laboratory will be equipped with high-power laser system and time-resolved spectroscopy setups with the required data acquisition and analysis software. This proposal aims to advance our understanding of photochemical processes and catalytic mechanisms of current and future research work at AUB, driving innovation and sustainability in science and technology.
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• New Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) Incorporating the Isoindigo Chromophore for Photocatalysis Applications
  Bilal Kaafarani, Department of Chemistry
  Carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered the main greenhouse gas anthropogenically released and trapped in the atmosphere. A substantial surge in CO2 emission has resulted from the high-speed of industrial development in addition to the reliance on fossil fuels for energy production. This emission is accompanied by disastrous environmental problems such as global warming. Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are metal-free crystalline 2D/3D structured networks fabricated of high-ordered porous crystalline structures made of covalently linked building blocks. The nature and properties of the linker in COFs are related to the structure, nature, and efficiency of the COF’s application. Both the design of the COF and the assembled functionalities influence the efficiency of the COF at both levels of uptake capacity and selectivity of the gas. The isoindigo chromophore is a stable, highly conjugated, planar, and electron-deficient molecule. In this research project, we plan to synthesize a library of COFs having the isoindigo chromophore as a linker and to test these COFs for CO2 reduction into formic acid. The planarity of the isoindigo chromophore as well as its substitution with symmetric and asymmetric substituents at the N atoms increases the surface area of the synthesized COFs and that therefore increases the CO2 uptake.​​