Dr. Ryan M. Richards is a professor of chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines, currently making discoveries in what he likes to call his 'catalytic playground.' The interface of the fields of catalysis and nanoscale materials is at the forefront of the quest for a sustainable future. Dr. Richards' research group is exploring the interface of nanoscale materials and catalysis by pursuing new methods to manipulate the preparation of materials at the nanoscale, examining the structure/activity relationships these materials exhibit, apply the nano-engineered materials in a spectrum of catalytic reactions to determine how their properties affect the process, combining in situ spectroscopy and modeling to gain mechanistic information, and collaborate with theoreticians and other instrumental specialists to develop a theoretical understanding of the properties associated with preparing and applying these systems in catalytic processes.
Aired March 25, 2018
