Headshot of Dr.Michael Norris

Dr. Michael Norris

Associate Professor of Chemistry
  • Profile

    I am interested in finding new molecules that exhibit unique reactivity with CO2. The continued depletion of worldwide fossil fuel reserves as well as rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere require the development of energy supplies that are secure and CO2-neutral. Ideally, energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal would provide the required power, but the energy produced from these sources must still be transformed into something that can be stored, transported, and used on demand. Use of CO2 as the C-source for generating fuels from these energies is highly desirable, but the reduction of this prevalent molecule is difficult due to its stability. Thus, new molecules are needed that are able to interact with the relatively inert CO2 and aid in the reduction to value-added products. 

    The goal of my research is to synthesize complexes that have bifunctional reactivity that allow them to activate and transform CO2. As synthetic, inorganic chemists, we can think about logical design of catalyst systems that incorporate multiple metal centers or guilty (non-innocent) ligands. Motifs of particular interest are ligands for the cooperative activation of both the electrophilic C-atom and nucleophilic-O atoms, redox-active ligands that can store reducing equivalents, and systems that can reversibly store hydride.

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    • Grants and Fellowships

      Jeffress Memorial Trust Awards Program in Interdisciplinary Research, “Understanding the reduction of CO­2­ to methanol catalyzed by simple amines with a combined computational and experimental approach” (Norris, Parish).

      American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund, “Systems for CO2 Conversion to Value-Added Products with NADH Mimics” (Norris).

    • Presentations

      249th ACS National Meeting & Exposition – “CdSe Sensitized Photocathodes on a Mesoporous Transparent Conducting Oxide Scaffold.” Denver, CO, March 22–26, 2015.

      Orcas International Conference Poster Presentation – “Quantum Dot High-Surface Area Electrodes for Photoelectrochemical Reductions to Produce Solar Fuels.” San Juan Island, WA, September 10–12, 2014.

      Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels Gordon Research Conference Poster Presentation – “CdSe Quantum Dots on Transparent, Mesoporous, Conducting Substrates for Photocathode Applications.” Ventura, CA, January 19–24, 2013.

      Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels Gordon Research Seminar Poster Presentation – “CdSe Quantum Dots on Transparent, Mesoporous, Conducting Substrates for Photocathode Applications.” Ventura, CA, January 18–19, 2013.

      2012 ACS Southeastern Regional Meeting – “Redox Mediator Effect on Water Oxidation in a Ruthenium Based Chromophore-Catalyst Assembly.” Raleigh, NC, November 14–17, 2012.

      243rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition – “Assemblies for light-driven water oxidation: Moving towards the first row.” San Diego, CA, March 25–29, 2012.

  • Publications
    Journal Articles

    Norris, M. R.; Cossairt, B. M. “CdSe on a Mesoporous Transparent Conducting Oxide Scaffold as a Photocathode.” Journal of Materials Chemistry A (Inside Cover). 2015, 3, 14585–14591.

    Paul, L.; Enkhbold, K.; Robinson, S.; Aye, T.; Chung, Y.; Harrison, D. P.; Pollock, J. A.; Norris, M. R. "Unravelling the role of [Ru(bpy)2(OH2)2]2+ complexese in photo-activated chemotherapy" J. Inorg. Biochem., 2022, 235, 111930.

    Swackhammer, A.; Provencher, E. A. P.; Donkor, A. K.; Garofalo, J.; Dowling, S.; Garchitorena, K.; Phyo, A.; Ramirez Veliz, N.; Karen, M.; Kwon, A.; Diep, R.; Norris, M.; Safo, M. K.; Pierce, D. B. "Mechanistic Analysis of the VirA Sensor Kinase in Agrobacterium tumefaciens Using Structural Models." Front. Microbiol., 2022, 13.

    Clair, S.; Norris, M. R. "Strategy for functionalization of electrodes with discrete, unmodified small molecules exhibiting aqueous stability." J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 15681-15686.

    Hyde, J.; Hanson, K.; Vannucci, A.; Lapides, A.; Alibabaei, L.; Norris, M. R.; Meyer, T. J.; Harrison, D. “Electrochemical Instability of Phosphonate-Derivatized, RuIII Polypyridyl Complexes on Metal Oxide Surfaces.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2015, 7(18), 9554 –9562.

    Alibabaei, L.; Sherman, B. D.; Norris, M. R.; Brennaman, K. M.; Meyer, T. J. “Visible Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting into H2 and O2 in a Dye Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cell.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2015, 112(19), 5893 – 5898.

    Ashford, D. L.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Norris, M. R.; Concepcion, J. J.; Keinan, S.; Brennaman, M. K.; Templeton, J. L.; Meyer, T. J. “Controlling Ground and Excited State Properties Through Ligand Changes in Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2014, 53(11), 5637 – 5646.

    Alibabaei, L.; Brennaman, K. M.; Norris, M. R.; Kalanyan, B.; Song, W.; Losego, M.; Concepcion, J. J.; Binstead, R. A.; Parsons, G. N.; Meyer, T. J. “Solar Water Splitting in a Molecular Photoelectrochemical Cell.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2013, 110(50), 20008 – 20013.

    Knauf, R.; Brennaman, K. M.; Alibabaei, L.; Norris, M. R.; Dempsey, J. “Revealing the Relationship Between Semiconductor Electronic Structure and Electron Transfer Dynamics at Metal Oxide-Chromophore Interfaces.” The Journal of Physical Chemistry, C. 2013, 117, 25259 – 25268.

    Norris, M. R.; Concepcion, J. J.; Fang, Z.; Templeton, J. L.; Meyer, T. J. “Low Overpotential Water Oxidation by a Surface-Bound Ruthenium-Chromophore-Ruthenium-Catalyst Assembly.” Angewadnte Chemie Int. Ed. 2013, 52(51), 13580 – 13583.

    Norris, M. R.; Concepcion, J. J.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Fang, Z.; Lapides, A. M.; Ashford, D. L.; Templeton, J. L.; Meyer, T. J. “Synthesis of Phosphonic Acid Derivatized Bipyridine Ligands and Their Ruthenium Complexes.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2013, 52(21), 12492 – 12501.

    Norris, M. R.; Concepcion, J. J.; Harrison, D. P.; Binstead, R. A.; Ashford, D. L.; Fang, Z.; Templeton, J. L.; Meyer, T. J. “Redox Mediator Effect on Water Oxidation in a Ruthenium Based Chromophore-Catalyst Assembly.” Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2013, 135 (6), 2080 – 2083.

    Giokas, P. G.; Miller, S. A.; Hanson, K.; Norris, M. R.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Concepcion, J. J.; Bettis, S. E.; Meyer, T. J.; Papanikolas, J. M.; Moran, A. M. “Spectroscopy and Dynamics of Phosphonated Ruthenium Complexes on TiO2.” Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2013, 117 (2), 812 – 824.

    Wingard, L. A.; Finniss, M. C.; Norris, M. R.; White, P. S.; Brookhart, M.; Templeton, J. L. “Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of Iridium(III) Complexes Containing a 4,6-Dimethyl-1,3-benzenediphenylimine Pincer Ligand.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2013, 52 (1), 515 – 526.

    Hanson, K.; Brennaman, M. K.; Ito, A.; Luo, H.; Song, W.; Parker, K. A.; Ghosh, R.; Norris, M. R.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Concepcion, J. J.; Lopez, R.; Meyer, T. J. “Structure-Property Relationships in Phosphonate-Derivatized, Ru(II) Polypyridyl Dyes on Metal Oxide Surfaces in an Aqueous Environment.” Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2012, 116(28), 14837 – 14847.

    Hanson, K.; Torelli, D.; Vannucci, A.; Brennaman, M. K.; Luo, H.; Alibabaei, L.; Song, W.; Ashford, D. L.; Norris, M. R.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Concepcion, J. J.; Meyer, T. J. “Self-assembled Bilayer Films of Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complexes by Layer-by-Layer Deposition on Nanostructured Metal Oxides.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2012, 51 (51), 12782 – 12785.

    Ashford, D. L.; Song, W.; Concepcion, J. J.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Brennaman, M. K.; Norris, M. R.; Fang, Z.; Templeton, J. L.; Meyer, T. J. “Photoinduced Electron Transfer in a Chromophore-Catalyst Assembly Anchored to TiO2.” Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2012, 134(46), 19189 – 19198.

    Song, W.; Chen, Z.; Glasson, C. R. K.; Hanson, K.; Luo, H.; Norris, M. R.; Ashford, D. L.; Concepcion, J. J.; Brennaman, M. K.; Meyer, T. J. “Interfacial Dynamics and Solar Fuel Formation in Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cells.” ChemPhysChem. 2012, 13(12), 2882 – 2890.

    Ashford, D. L.; Stewart, D. J.; Glasson, C. R.; Binstead, R. A.; Harrison, D. P.; Norris, M. R.; Concepcion, J. J.; Fang, Z.; Templeton, J. L.; Meyer, T. J. “An Amide-Linked Chromophore-Catalyst Assembly for Water Oxidation.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2012, 51(12), 6428 – 6430.

    Chen, Z.; Concepcion, J. J.; Brennaman, M. K.; Kang, P.; Norris, M. R.; Hoertz, P. G.; Meyer, T. J. “Splitting CO2 into CO and O2 by a single catalyst.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Early Edition. 2012, 1 – 6.

  • Links
    Lab Website