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:

05/01/2021 - Congrats to Jack Smith and Haley Lightfoot for receiving summer ICRU Fellows!

04/27/2021 - Congrats to Nicholas Dalhen for receiving the Donald J. Burton and Margaret A. Burton Scholarship!!!

04/27/2021 - Congrats to Haley Lightfoot for receiving the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Award.

04/14/2021 - New Publication: D.V. Kravchuk, N. N. Dahlen, S. J. Kruse, C. D. Malliakas, P. M. Shand, T. Z. Forbes "Isolation and reactivity of Uranyl superoxide."  https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202103039

02/08/2021 - New Publication with the Mason Group:  J. L Bjorklund, M. Shohel, J. W Bennett, J. A Smith, M. E Carolan, E. Hollar, T. Z Forbes, S. E Mason "Density functional theory and thermodynamics analysis of MAl12 Keggin substitution reactions: Insights into ion incorporation and experimental confirmation." https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0038962

01/22/2021 - New Publication with the Mason Group (Hot Article):  M. Shohel, J. L. Bjorklund, J. A. Smith, D. V. Kravchuk, S. E. Mason, T. Z. Forbes  "Formation of Nanoscale [Ge4O16Al48(OH)108(H2O)24]20+ from Condensation of ϵ‐GeAl128+ Keggin Polycations."  https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202017321

01/15/2021 -  New Publication: A. A. Peroutka, M. M. Pyrch, J. M. Williams, M. K. Payne, T.Z. Forbes "Exploring competitive metal binding and crystallization of UO22+ and Cu2+ tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid complexes." https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2020.114904

12/10/2020 -  New publication: A. Blanes Diaz, D. V. Kravchuk, A. A. Peroutka, E. Cole, M. C. Basile, T. Z. Forbes "Photoinduced Transformation of Uranyl Nitrate Crown Ether Compounds" https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202000705

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! 

 

  • Uranium metal-organic nanotube contains confined water molecules in a hexagonal array. (Unruh et. al. 2013)

    Uranium metal-organic nanotube contains confined water molecules in a hexagonal array. (Unruh et. al. 2013)

  • 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