Hupp Research
Home | Joseph T. Hupp | Research | Publications | People | Meetings | Photos


Research in the Hupp Lab is highly interdisciplinary, with students who are majoring in Physical, Inorganic, Materials and Organic Chemistry. Most research projects revolve around a theme of studying materials for alternative energy applications and other environmental issues. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, we have many joint students with other researchers both at Northwestern and at other institutions. Click here for links to some of our collaborators websites.

Energy and Electron Transfer Subgroup
The unifying theme in this diverse group of research projects is the study of intra- and intermolecular energy and electron transfer. Click here for more info.


Molecular Materials
We have several projects involved with the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous molecular materials. The materials we work with include rhenium coordinated cyclophanes molecular "squares" and "rectangles"), metal organic frameworks, and self assembled multiporphyrinic arrays. These materials offer promise for applications in chemical sensors, high density alternative fuel storage, molecular sieving membranes, and catalysis.  Click here for more info.

Sensors
When coherent, monochromatic light is transmitted through a micropatterned grating, light is diffracted into a pattern corresponding to lattice geometry.  All molecular and atomic analytes have polarizable electrons, thus have refractive indices greater than vacuum, therefore, incorporation of analyte into the lattice results in an increase in diffraction efficiency that can be detected.  Click here for more info.

Catalysis
Several projects in the Hupp Lab focus on chemical catalysis. Included in these projects is the use of supramolecular porphyrin and salen arrays for the epoxidation of olefins.   Click here for more info.


Nonlinear Optic Investigations of Nanoscale Interfaces

Hyper-Rayleigh scattering has been used to investigate the nonlinear optical properties of a host of systems ranging from molecular chromophores like Ru(DEAS)32+ to colloidal systems such as SiO2 and Au.  Click here for more info.