Forbes Research Group

Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa

Developing novel nanomaterials that provide an enhanced understanding of basic actinide chemistry and the mobility of nuclear materials in environmental systems.

Welcome to the Forbes Research Group!

Recent News:

07/19/2020 - New publication with the Mason Group:  M. Shohel, J. L. Bjorklund, E. A. Ovrom, S. E. Mason, Tori Z. Forbes "Ga3+ Incorporation into Al13 Keggin Polyoxometalates and the Formation of (GaAl12)7+ and (Ga2.5Al28.5)19+ Polycations."  DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00743

07/08/2020 - New publication with the Cramer Group:  M. Shohel, N.E. B McAdams, B. D. Cramer, T. Z. Forbes. "Ontogenetic variability in crystallography and mosaicity of conodont apatite: implications for microstructure, palaeothermometry and geochemistry."  DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200322

06/17/2020 - Congrats to Mikaela for winning the 2020 Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Award from the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Technology Research and Development! 

05/21/2020 - New publication with the Cwiertny Group:  D. V. Kravchuk, A. Blanes Diaz, M. E. Carolan, E. A. Mpundu, D. M. Cwiertny, T. Z. Forbes. "Uranyl Speciation on the Surface of Amidoximated Polyacrylonitrile Mats."  DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00440

05/14/2020 - Congrats to Dmytro for receiving the UI Department of Chemistry Best Inorganic Chemistry Seminar award for 2019-2020!

04/21/2020 - New publication: L.C. Applegate and T. Z. Forbes. "Controlling Water Structure and Behavior: Design Principles from Metal Organic Nanotubular Materials."  DOI: 10.1039/D0CE00331J

04/15/2020 - New publication with the Mason and Leddy groups:  M. M. Pyrch, J. L. Bjorklund, J. M. Williams, D. L. Parr IV, S. E. Mason, J. Leddy, T. Z. Forbes. "Impacts of hydrogen bonding interactions with Np(V/VI)O2Cl4 complexes: vibrational spectroscopy, redox behavior, and computational analysis."  DOI:10.1039/D0DT00848F

03/26/2020 - New publication:  M. M. Pyrch, J. M. Williams, M. W. Kasperski, L. C. Applegate, T.Z. Forbes.  "Synthesis and Characterization of Np(VI) and U(VI) Tetrachloride Complexes Crystallized with 2,2-Bipyridine."  DOI:  10.1016/j.ica.2020.119628

03/12/2020 - Congrats to Dmytro for receiving a University of Iowa Post-comprehensive Exam Graduate Fellowship!

02/28/2020 - Congrats to Ally and Anamar for acceptance into their top graduate programs!  Ally will be going to Colorado School of Mines and Anamar will be joining the chemistry program at Georgetown University.

01/24/2020 - Congrats to Dmytro for successfully completing his comprehensive exam!

12/12/2019 - New publication with the Cwiertny and Cerrato groups: A. Johns, J. Qian, M. E. Carolan, N. Shaikh, A. Peroutka, A. Seeger, J. M. Cerrato, T. Z. Forbes, and D. M. Cwiertny.  "Functionalized electrospun polymer nanofibers for treatment of water contaminated with uranium." DOI:  10.1039/C9EW00834A

10/11/2019 - New publication:  D.V. Kravchuk and T. Z. Forbes. "In Situ Generation of Organic Peroxide to Create a Nanotubular Uranyl Peroxide Phosphate" DOI:  10.1002/anie.201910287

07/11/2019 - New publication: M. M Pyrch, J. M. Williams and T. Z. Forbes. "Exploring crown-ether functionalization on the stabilization of hexavalent neptunium." DOI:  10.1039/C9CC04393D

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The view of the Iowa River from the lab.

    The view of the Iowa River from the lab.

  • Exploring uranyl citrate complexes using Raman spectroscopy (Basile et al., 2015)

    Exploring uranyl citrate complexes using Raman spectroscopy (Basile et al., 2015)

  • Np(VI) oxidation state stabilized in the presence of functionalized crown ether (Pyrch et al., 2019).

    Np(VI) oxidation state stabilized in the presence of functionalized crown ether (Pyrch et al., 2019).

  • Crystallization of Np(V) tetrachlorides over Np (VI) species occurs with charge assisted hydrogen bonding (Pyrch et al., 2020)

    Crystallization of Np(V) tetrachlorides over Np (VI) species occurs with charge assisted hydrogen bonding (Pyrch et al., 2020)

  • Water exhibits unique and unexpected behavioral and structural changes under nanoscale confinement (Applegate and Forbes, 2020)

    Water exhibits unique and unexpected behavioral and structural changes under nanoscale confinement (Applegate and Forbes, 2020)

  • Interactions between H-donors and U(VI) and Np(V) oxo groups impact the thermal expansion properties. (Payne et al. 2018)

    Interactions between H-donors and U(VI) and Np(V) oxo groups impact the thermal expansion properties. (Payne et al. 2018)

  • If you are interested in conducting graduate work in actinide chemistry, contact Dr. Forbes

    If you are interested in conducting graduate work in actinide chemistry, contact Dr. Forbes

  • Autoxidation of benzaldehyde in presence of U(VI) affords the in-situ generation of peroxide (Kravchuk and Forbes, 2019)

    Autoxidation of benzaldehyde in presence of U(VI) affords the in-situ generation of peroxide (Kravchuk and Forbes, 2019)

  • Undergraduate researchers work with Graduate mentors to synthesize new materials

    Undergraduate researchers work with Graduate mentors to synthesize new materials

  • If you are interested in undergraduate research, contact Dr. Forbes

    If you are interested in undergraduate research, contact Dr. Forbes