Presenter Bio

Sarah Larsen

Sarah Larsen joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Iowa in 1995 and is currently an associate professor. She received her A.B. degree from Bowdoin College in 1986 and her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1992. From 1992-1995, she was a Department of Energy Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Larsen’s research interests are in nanoscience, environmental catalysis, zeolite materials and solid state NMR and EPR. Her research focus is on the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate catalytic systems, such as zeolites and metal oxides. She was recently awarded a Faculty Scholar Award (2004-2007) from the University of Iowa. Professor Larsen has over 35 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Recent work in the Larsen laboratory has focused on several different projects. First, Professor Larsen has been using zeolite materials in environmental remediation studies for over ten years. These studies have focused on using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (solid state NMR and EPR) to study the remediation of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Second, the Larsen group has developed expertise in the characterization and synthesis of nanocrystalline zeolite materials and in studies of photoxidation processes in zeolites. Third, the Larsen group has been involved in computational chemistry related to calculations of EPR parameters and vibrational frequencies of adsorbed species in zeolites. Fourth, Professor Larsen is also involved in educational initiatives related to incorporating experiments involving semiconductor quantum dots into the introductory chemistry curriculum and in improving the scientific communication skills of upper level chemistry majors.

1. Publications:
   Development of Improved Materials for Environmental Applications: Nanocrystalline NaY Zeolites, Weiguo Song, Gonghu Li, Vicki H. Grassian, Sarah C. Larsen, submitted to Environmental Science and Technology (invited article)
2. Larsen, S.C. Applications of Zeolites in Environmental Catalysis. An invited chapter to appear in Environmental Catalysis, 2004, Ed. Vicki H. Grassian, Marcel Dekker Inc., in press.
3. Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorption Properties of Nanocrystalline ZSM-5 W. Song, R. E. Justice, C.A. Jones, V. H. Grassian, S.C. Larsen, in press Langmuir
4. Hexagonal, Hollow, Aluminum-Containing ZSM-5 Tubes Prepared From Mesoporous Silica TemplatesW. Song, R. Kanthasamy, V. H. Grassian, S. C. Larsen, Chemical Communications, DOI:10.1039/B406753C (2004).
5. Size-dependent Properties of Nanocrystalline Silicalite Synthesized with Systematically varied Crystal Sizes, W. Song, R.E. Justice, C. A. Jones, V.H. Grassian, S.C.Larsen, Langmuir, 20, 4696-4702 (2004)
6. Grassian, V. H. and Larsen, S.C. “Environmental Catalysts Based on Nanocrystalline Zeolites.” Invited chapter in The Dekker Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2004, Ed. James Schwarz, Cristian Contescu and Karol Putyera, Marcel Dekker Inc.
7. Development of Nanocrystalline Zeolites as Environmental Catalysts, Y, H. Alwy, G. Li, V.H. Grassian, and S.C. Larsen, invited chapter in Nanotechnology and the Environment, (Ed. B. Karn) ACS Symposium Series, American Chemical Society, Washington DC, in press.
8. Photooxidation of Hydrocarbons in Cation-Exchanged Zeolites, Vicki H. Grassian and Sarah C. Larsen, invited chapter in Handbook of Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 3 Supramolecular Photochemistry, edited by Hari Singh Nalwa, American Scientific Publishers, California, 2003, pp. 451-492.
9. Photooxidation of Cyclohexane and Cyclohexene in BaY, G. Li, M. Xu, S.C. Larsen, V.H. Grassian, Journal of Molecular CatalysisA: Chemical, 194, 169-180 (2003).

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