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Group Members

Our group members include scientists, postdocs, and PhD students

Research Interest

Materials for photovoltaics and catalysis and their applications in sustainable development

Research Facilities

State-of-the-art research facilities

Vacancies

PhD and Postdoc positions are available time to time

Leisure time

I am fond of sports, travel and photography

Photos

A few selected images and videos

Research Interest


(f) Fundamental science and Reaction mechanisms
Organosilanes requires the silane molecule to undergo hydrolysis and condensation reactions for any application. Unlike the C-H bond, the silicon hydride (Si-H) structure is reactive towards the water to form reactive silanol (Si-OH) species. Depending on the nature of the hydrolyzable groups attached to the silicon, it may distinguish into following categories of silanes: chlorosilane, silazanes, alkoxysilanes, and a cyloxysilanes. Because organosilanes hydrolyze before reacting with each other or with the hydroxyl groups present on a substrate surface, it is important to understand the reaction kinetics. The hydrolysis reaction can be catalyzed using either an acid or a base by SN2 reaction mechanism where pentacoordinate intermediates are studied. Mechanisms of acid- and base- catalyzed hydrolysis of organosilanes have been extensively by NMR and x-ray crystallography. The rates of both hydrolysis and condensation are influenced by changing pH levels. However, the optimum pH for hydrolysis is not optimum for condensation. Finding the best balance between hydrolysis and condensation is one of the keys to the successful utilization of organosilane chemistry for a particular application.

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Currently, we are investigating (1) catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation that includes: Catalytic CO2 hydrogenation under ambient conditions, Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane, Study of the mechanisms of the catalytic reactions. (2) The role of the water molecule that includes: hydrolysis of metal complexes, the formation of hydrido metal complexes and pH dependence of selectivity of reactions. Our research is also focused on the Photocatalysis and time resolve spectroscopy. A variety of time resolve spectroscopic techniques (Pump and probe methodology using Nd: YAG Laser) were employed to investigate the reactivity of photochemically generated transient species from the nanosecond to longer timescales.

Publications
1. Sohail Muhammad*, A. Bassindale, P. G. Taylor, Study of binuclear silicon complexes of diketopiperazine (DKP) at SN2 reaction profile, Organometallics. 2011, 30 (3), 564-571
2. Bassindale, Muhammad Sohail, P. G. Taylor, Four independent structures of a pentacoordinate silicon species at different points on the Berry pseudo rotation pathway., Chem. Commun., 2010, (19),3274-3276