34th Annual Leonard A.Ford Lectureship

Wednesday, September 4, 2024
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Trafton Science Center- TRC 121

Join the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Geology for the 34th Annual Leonard A. Ford Lectureship! This event will include a Technical Talk at 11:00 a.m. and a General Talk, at 7:30 p.m. This year's speaker is Dr.Johna Leddy from Department of Chemistry at the University of Iowa. Read up on Dr. Leddy and abstracts below. 

Dr. Johna Leddy Biography

Johna Leddy earned her BA degree in chemistry from Rice University and her PhD from the University of Texas.  She completed postdoctoral training at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Fuel Cell Program.  She began her academic career at the City University of New York and Queens College.  She has risen through the ranks at the University of Iowa where she is now a Full Professor.  She has published 46 high impact papers and holds 32 US patents.  Her work spans from fundamental electrochemistry to advanced technologies. Areas of particular interest are magnetic effects on electron transfer rates, constructive interference by ultrasound in thin layer electrochemistry, modified electrodes, breath sensors, catalysts for energy and environmentally relevant reactions, and electrochemical energy devices of batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers.  Magnetoelectrocatalysis and sonoelectrocatalysis dramatically increase current and efficiency in electrochemical systems.  Professor Leddy served as Secretary (2008-12) and President (2017-18) of the Electrochemical Society, and as Treasurer (2002-10) and President (2011-13) of the Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry.  She is Fellow of the Electrochemical Society.  Leddy is the author, co-author, or editor of several books, currently serves on two journal editorial advisory boards, and has served on federal review panels.  She is honored to have mentored 25 PhD, 18 MS, and 86 undergraduate students.

Technical Talk

“Magnetoelectrocatalysis”

 11:00 A.M.

Centennial Student Union - Ostrander Auditorium

Abstract:  In the study of electron transfer reactions, electrochemistry focuses on electrical current and potential. Yet, throughout electromagnetic theory, current is entangled with electrical and magnetic fields and gradients. Gradients drive chemical change. Where magnetic gradients couple into electron transfer events, magnetoelectrocatalysis increases rates. Experimentally, micromagnets on an electrode surface introduce gradients. Rates increase for environmental and energy relevant reactions (EERRs) that include the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and electrolysis of single carbon (C1) species, such as CO.  Addition of micromagnets to fuel cells increases efficiency, power, and energy by 40%.  Unpaired electron spins set magnetic properties of electrodes, redox species, and micromagnets. For voltammetry of transition metal complexes, simple Boltzmann statistics identify how change in redox probe spins impact rates.  A classical transition state model includes magnetic properties to predict rates.  The path of experiments to model provides fundamental means to design more effective electrocatalysts, especially for EERRs. 

General Talk 

“How to Change the Energy Distribution of the Planet? Electrochemistry”

7:30 p.m.

Trafton Science Center – TR C121

Abstract:  The largest classes of chemical reactions are acid-base reactions of hydrogen ions and redox reactions that transfer electrons. Electrochemistry tracks electrons and arises where chemistry meets electricity. Electrochemistry underlies advanced technologies such as cell phones and energy storage and generation devices of batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells. Electrochemical reactions are ubiquitous in biochemistry and medicine, where enzymes are catalysts, vitamins are free radical scavengers, and the citric acid cycle makes ATP. Electrochemical reactions can be spontaneous to generate electricity or driven by applying voltage. Electrochemical processes are inherently more efficient than thermal processes. For example, the practicable efficiency of battery and fuel cell EVs are > 60 % whereas internal combustion engines are < 30 %. Electrochemistry is used to refine aluminum, generate chlorine, and remove lanthanides from spent nuclear fuel. With greater efficiency and lower temperatures, electrochemical catalysis lowers environmental loads and energy costs in reactions such as hydrogen generation and CO₂ reduction. Electrochemistry will change the energy distribution of the planet.