The Disputation will be live streamed for everyone else.
The livestream will be activated 15 minutes before the Defense starts.
Trial lecture
February 7th, 10:00 AM, Auditorium 3, Chemistry building
Trial lecture title: "X-ray- and electron-diffraction for determining long- and short-range atomic ordering"
Kreeringssammendrag/Conferral summary
I dette doktorgradsarbeidet har jeg videreutviklet metodene for syntese, modifisering og karakterisering av metallorganiske rammeverk, også kjent som MOFer. Formålet med disse materialene er selektiv omdannelse av hydrokarboner til mer verdifulle materialer ved hjelp av inkorporasjon av kobberatomer. Dette arbeidet har gitt stor innsikt i hvordan kobberet interagerer med både selve rammeverket, og enzyminspirerte seteposisjoner som er installert inne i MOFene.
Main research findings
The goal of this thesis was to develop new catalysts for C-H activation by drawing inspiration from naturally occurring monooxygenase enzymes. These enzymes utilize copper as a cofactor in order to insert O-atoms into C-H bonds. Being able to recreate this reactivity and apply it to industrial chemical processes is a highly valuable goal for humanity. This thesis describes the development of two primary systems utilizing Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The first system incorporated custom-synthesized organic ligands into a MOF to mimic the active site of cuproenzymes. The second approach involved adding histidine to the MOF, directly targeting the structures of the enzymatic active sites. Advanced spectroscopic characterization revealed that the copper centers within these MOFs are accessible to gas molecules. In the case of the histidine-functionalized materials, there are multiple structures formed within the framework, depending on the degree of histidine loading as well as the copper source used. Finally, various oxidation tests (catalytic and stoichiometric) using these materials were performed, providing valuable information for further work and design requirements.
Candidate contact information
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erlend-aunan-73163686/
E-post: e.aunan@profmof.com
Adjudication committee
Professor Russel Morris
School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom
Associate Professor Valentina Colombo
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università deali Studi di Milano, Italy
Associate Professor Björn Martin Valldor
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Supervisors
Emeriti Karl Petter Lillerud
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Professor Mats Tilset
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Professor Unni Olsbye
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Chair of defence
Professor Stian Svelle
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway