Clifford Kubiak
Inorganic chemistry: electron transfer, organometallic chemistry, fixation and utilization of carbon dioxide. Nanoscience: molecular electronics, nanosensors
Contact Information
Office: PACH 4223A
Phone: (858) 822-2665
Fax: (858) 534-5383
Email: ckubiak@ucsd.edu
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Education and Appointments
1980-81 Postdoc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1980 Ph.D., University of Rochester
1975 Sc.B., Brown University

Awards and Academic Honors
2002-2006 Chair, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
1998- Harold C. Urey Chair in Chemistry
1997 Robert W. Wheland Visiting Professor, University of Chicago
1995-1996 Japan Society for Promotion of Science Fellow
1987-1991 Alfred P. Sloan Fellow
1982-1998 Appointed to faculty, Purdue University

Research Interests
Our research is focused on three areas:(1) "Ultrafast" electron transfer dynamics in inorganic mixed valence complexes, (2) molecular electronics and nanoscience, and (3) catalysis of atom transfer chemistry, especially the chemical and electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide.

Ultrafast electron transfer. A class of inorganic charge transfer complexes with electronic structures that can be tuned from completely delocalized to tightly localized is under investigation. At the delocaization limit, rates of intramolecular electron transfer in these systems can be so fast that coalescence of infrared spectral features occurs in a manner reminiscent of dynamic NMR, but on a picosecond (vs. millisecond for NMR) time scale. The dynamics probed by this simple IR method track solvent dipolar response, and can be developed as "reporters" of local dynamics. We expect that the fundamental knowledge gained can be applied to the rational design of "electronically wired" metal complexes and "molecular devices".

Molecular Electronics and Nanosensors. The field of "molecular electronics," i.e. electronic devices fabricated from molecular components, is being pursued as a method to achieve high density, uniform devices for computational and sensor applications. We are studying bistable molecular electronic devices that can be switched under lelectrostatic bias. "Chemresistor" environmental sensors are under investigation. Our research addresses fundamental questions about molecular electronics and seeks to develop applications of new systems constructed from molecules, metallic nanoclusters, biological molecules, and appropriate semiconductor device layers.

Atom Transfer Chemistry of Organometallic Complexes. The goal of these studies is to utilize CO2, an abundant greenhouse gas, for the ultimate manufacture of more complex and useful organic molecules including isocyanates di-alkyl carbonates. These efforts have concentrated on CO2 activation and reduction of CO2 by chemical, photochemical, and electrochemical means, and the development of catalysts for transforming CO2 to organic products. We are employing semiconductor devices with appropriate band energies to photochemically "split" CO2 to CO and O2.
Primary Research Area: Interdisciplinary Specialties:
Inorganic Chemistry Materials



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Selected Publications
  • Dinuclear Nickel Complexes as Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide. E. Simon-Manso and C. P. Kubiak, Organometallics, 2005, 24, 96-102.
  • Mixed valence isomers. J. C. Salsman and C. P. Kubiak, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 2382-2383.
  • Tuning the Electronic Communication and Rates of Intramolecular Electron Transfer of Dimers of Trinuclear Ruthenium Clusters: Bridging and Ancillary Ligand Effects. J. C. Salsman, S. Ronco, C. H. Londergan, and C. P. Kubiak, Inorg. Chem., 2006, 45, 547-554.
  • Origins of Cooperative Non - Covalent Host - Guest Chemistry in Mixed Valence Complexes. B. J. Lear and C. P. Kubiak, J. Phys. Chem. B., 2007, 111, 6766-6771.
  • Solvent dynamical control of ultrafast ground state electron transfer: Implications for class II-III mixed valency. B. J. Lear, S. D. Glover, J. C. Salsman, C. H. Londergan, C. P. Kubiak, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 12772-12779.
  • Mixed valence self-assembled monolayers: electrostatic polarizabilities of the mixed valence states. J. C. Goeltz, C. P. Kubiak, J. Phys. Chem. C., 2008, 112, 8114-8116.
  • Electron transfer at the Class II/III borderline of mixed valency: dependence of rates on solvent dynamics and observation of a localized-to-delocalized transitioin in freezing solvents. S. D. Glover, B. J. Lear, J. C. Salsman, C. H. Londergan, C. P. Kubiak, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A., 2008, 366, 177-185.
  • Electrocatalytic and homogeneous approaches to conversion of CO2 to liquid fuels. E. E. Benson, C. P. Kubiak, A. J. Sathrum, J. M. Smieja, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 89-99.