{"id":51,"date":"2016-10-31T12:47:09","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T16:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencescosmaincms.cm.ucf.edu\/physics\/blairreasearch\/?page_id=51"},"modified":"2025-10-11T14:00:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T18:00:38","slug":"research-group-projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/physics\/blair-research\/research-group-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Group Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"
Catalysis for Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals<\/a> | Photocatalytic Carbon Growth <\/a>| Inorganic Materials<\/a> | Forensic Science <\/a> | X-ray Diffraction <\/a><\/div>\n
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Interests<\/h3>\n

Production of fuels and chemicals from sustainable sources, Synthesis of inorganic materials with an eye on applications in aerospace, optics and chemical feedstock. Examination of the kinetics and mechanism of solid-solid mechanochemical reactions. Development of Forensic analytical methods for the presumptive identification of substances of abuse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Catalysis for Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals<\/h3>\n

\"Diagram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Electron-Deficient Solids<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our research explores how electron-deficient solids\u2014particularly those based on Group 13 elements such as boron\u2014can activate energy-relevant molecules through direct orbital interactions. These materials offer a metal-free platform for reactions traditionally catalyzed by transition metals, such as olefin and CO\u2082 hydrogenation, C\u2013H activation, and methane coupling.<\/p>\n

Catalysis at Defects and Boron Frameworks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Current work investigates the catalytic activity of structural defects in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and related boron-rich frameworks. Defect sites in h-BN introduce localized electronic states that enable activation of C=C, C=O, and C\u2013N bonds but also complicate spectroscopic analysis. To simplify and control these effects, we have developed all-boron frameworks that isolate and amplify active motifs such as nitrogen vacancies (VN<\/sub>). These materials exhibit promising activity for C\u2013H bond activation and methane coupling, with ongoing studies quantifying steady-state reaction rates and activation energies.<\/p>\n

Advancing Metal-Free Catalysis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Building on previous collaborations with CNRS Saint-\u00c9tienne (Dr. Laur\u00e8ne T\u00e9tard) and Brigham Young University (Dr. James Harper), we are integrating novel spectroscopic and solid-state NMR techniques to probe catalyst structure and reactivity at the atomic level. Parallel data-science tools developed at IDem Systems LLC are being applied to correlate structure\u2013activity relationships.
\nRecent findings reveal that boron-rich solids outperform h-BN in oxidative dehydrogenation, leading to a UCF patent application (Blair) describing a boron framework catalyst that enables low-temperature (250\u2013500 \u00b0C) methane coupling with stable production of C\u2083\u2013C\u2084 hydrocarbons for over 17 hours.<\/p>\n

Reaction Systems Under Study<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ongoing projects target two key transformations:<\/p>\n

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  1. Methane dehydroaromatization (MDA)
    \n6 CH\u2084 \u2192 C\u2086H\u2086 + 9 H\u2082\u2003(Currently funded by Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A.)<\/li>\n
  2. Reverse Haber\u2013Bosch reaction
    \n2 NH\u2083 \u2192 N\u2082 + 3 H\u2082\u2003(Currently funded by NASA)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Integrating Fundamentals and Applications<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Our research bridges fundamental and applied catalysis:<\/p>\n