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Dr. Ratnasabapathy G. Iyer
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry

 

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

We are interested in the synthesis and characterization of new inorganic materials in the family of oxychalcogenides. Potential applications include batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, photocatalysts, ion-exchangers, optoelectronic devices, catalysts, templates for nanomaterials synthesis and gas storage.

Oxychalcogenides are compounds containing both oxygen and chalcogen (S, Se, Te) atoms. While oxides and chalcogenides are found abundantly in literature, oxychalcogenides have yet to find a place. Oxychalcogenides are expected to bridge oxides and chalcogenides in terms of structure of properties. We will employ a number of synthetic strategies to prepare oxychalcogenides such as solvothermal, molten flux and ion-exhange methods. All the compounds prepared will be characterized using various techniques, chiefly X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and optical spectroscopy.

Students in our group will gain experience in cutting edge synthetic and characterization methodologies in materials chemistry. They will also learn how to present their results in a formal presentation such as a publication or conference proceeding.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Iyer, R. G. ; Delacourt, C. ; Masquelier, C. ; Tarascon, J. –M. ; Navrotsky, A. “Energetics of LiFePO4 and polymorphs of its delithiated form, FePO4” Electrochem. Solid -State Lett. 2006, 9, A46.
  • Iyer, R. G.; Bilc, D.; Mahanti, S. D.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “Structure and Properties of the Semiconductors Tl2SnAs2Q6 (Q = S, Se)” Mater.Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 2005, 848, FF2.7
  • Manos, M. J.; Iyer, R. G.; Quarez, E.; Liao, J. H.; Kanatzidis M. G. “[Sn(Zn4Sn4S17)]6-: A robust open framework based on metal-linked penta-supertetrahedral [Zn4Sn4S17]10- clusters with ion-exchange properties” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 3552
  • Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “[Mn2(AsS4)(4)]8- and [Cd2(AsS4)2(AsS5)2]8-: Discrete Clusters with High Negative Charge from Alkali Metal Polythiorsenate Fluxes” Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 3656
  • Iyer, R. G.; Aitken, J. A.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “Noncentrosymmetric Cubic Thio- and Selenogermanates: A0.5M1.75GeQ4 (A = Ag, Cu, Na; M= Pb, Eu; Q = S, Se)” Solid State Sci. 2004, 6, 451
  • Hwang, S. -J.; Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G. "Quaternary Selenostannates Na2-xGa2-xSn1+xSe6 and AGaSnSe4 (A = K, Rb, and Cs) through Rapid Cooling of Melts. Kinetics versus Thermodynamics in the Polymorphism of AGaSnSe4" J. Solid State Chem. 2004, 177, 3640
  • Hwang, S. -J.; Iyer, R. G.; Trikalitis, P. N.; Ogden, A. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “Cooling of Melts: Kinetic Stabilization and Polymorphic Transitions in the KInSnSe4 System” Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 2237
  • Palchik, O.; Iyer, R. G.; Canlas, C. G.; Weliky, D. P.; Kanatzidis, M. G. "K10M4M'4S17 (M= Mn, Fe, Co, Zn; M' = Sn, Ge) and Cs10Cd4Sn4S17: Compounds with a Discrete Supertetrahedral Cluster" Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2004, 630, 2237Palchik, O.; Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “K10M4Sn4S17 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Zn): Soluble Quaternary Sulfides with the Discrete [M4Sn4S17]10- Supertetrahedral Clusters” Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 5052
  • Iyer, R. G.; Do, J.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “Flux Synthesis of the Noncentrosymmetric Cluster Compounds Cs2SnAs2Q9 (Q =S, Se) containing Two Different Polychalcoarsenite b-[AsQ4]3- and [AsQ5]3- Ligands” Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 1475
  • Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G. “Controlling Lewis Basicity in Polythioarsenate Fluxes: Stabilization of KSnAsS5 and K2SnAs2S6. Extended Chains and Slabs Based on Pyramidal b-[AsS4]3- and [AsS3]3-” Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 3605

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Calorimetry Conference (Poster)
    University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, July 2006
    "Energetics of Ion-Exchanged SOMS (Sandia Octahedral Molecular Sieves): The Family of Microporous Oxides Na2-yMyNb2-xTixO6-x(OH)x•H2O (M = Li, Sr, Ca, Mg, Y, Cu, Ni; x= 0.4)" Iyer, R. G.; Pless, J. D.; Nenoff, T. M.; Navrotsky, A.
  • Midwest High Temperature and Solid State Chemistry Conference (Talk)
    Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, May 2003
    "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Quaternary Alkali Metal Thioarsenates
    Using the Molten Flux Method" Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G.
  • 17th Annual Center for Fundamental Materials Research Symposium (Poster)
    Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, March 2003
    "New Quaternary Transition and Main Group Metal Thioarsenates from Flux Chemistry" Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G.
  • Gordon Research Conference – Solid State Chemistry (Poster)
    Colby Sawyer College, New London, NH, July 2002
    "Reactivity of Main Group Metals in Polythioarsenate Fluxes: Novel Quaternary Compounds in the A/M/As/S ( A = Alkali Metal; M = Main Group Metal)" Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G.
  • Midwest High Temperature and Solid State Chemistry Conference (Poster)
    Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, June 2000
    "Polythioarsenate Fluxes as a Tool for the Synthesis of New Quaternary Thioarsenates in the A/M/As/S ( A = an Alkali Metal; M = Pb, Sn, Mn)" Iyer, R. G.; Kanatzidis, M. G.

COURSES

CHEM 121