Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) Seminar Series
Friday, October 2, 2026 | 12-1pm CT
Ryan Hall, 4003 | 2190 Campus Drive (Virtual Option via Zoom)
Join the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) for the Seminar Series. This month's speaker is James Bour.
About the Presentation
Speaker: James Bour
Title: "Synthesis and Structure of High-Surface-Area Organic Polymers"
Abstract:
Select examples of porous organic polymers rank among the highest-surface-area materials reported while also possessing excellent chemical and thermal stability. However, the most microporous examples are typically accessible only through difficult-to-scale organometallic homocoupling reactions. This presentation examines why certain synthetic approaches outperform others, identifying defect-forming processes as a major limitation of alternative polymerization methods. By carefully controlling these processes, scalable synthetic routes can produce porous polymers with surface areas comparable to those obtained using conventional organometallic homocoupling reactions. These findings provide broader design principles for scalable syntheses and expand the potential applications of these materials.
Bio: James R. Bour is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and was a Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow in the Dinca Lab at MIT. His NSF- and NIH-supported group at Wayne State University develops new syntheses and applications of organic materials with a focus on microporous organic polymers.
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The mission of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) is to promote interdisciplinary research fundamental to the discovery, synthesis, and understanding of catalysts and catalytic reactions essential to modern society. As a part of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, CCSS applies fundamental advances in catalysis science towards applications in alternative fuels, abatement of harmful emissions, resource recovery concepts, new processing routes, and many other strategies towards making chemicals more sustainable.
Tommy Baker
(847) 467-6043
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