Senior Postdoctoral Scholar in Chemistry, 2012-2015, California Institute of Technology Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2012, Yale University B.S. in Chemistry, 2007, Wichita State University B.A. in Spanish with Minor in Russian, 2007, Wichita State University

Inorganic/Catalysis/Energy/Synthesis/Materials

Our research program aims to address fundamental challenges in catalysis and efficient energy conversion. Development of new catalytic molecules and materials is of specific interest, targeting motifs that enable efficient energy storage in chemical bonds. For example, effective catalysts are sought to enable reduction of carbon dioxide, an abundant but typically unreactive feedstock, to more useful molecules. Synthesis and characterization of molecular catalysts and functional materials are important components of the work, including analysis of electrode surfaces featuring attached catalysts.

Initial projects in the group will lie in two main areas: (1) preparation and characterization of new molecular catalysts for reductive transformations of relevance to clean energy storage and utilization and (2) functionalization of conducting and semiconducting electrodes with catalytic groups to enable light-driven selective electrocatalysis. Students in the Blakemore group will gain exposure to techniques such as air-free synthesis, spectroscopy (e.g., NMR, EPR), electrochemistry, catalyst characterization, and surface characterization (e.g., IR, XPS).

“Catalysis of Proton Reduction with a [BO4]-bridged Dicobalt Glyoxime.” Stephanie M. Laga, James D. Blakemore, Lawrence M. Henling, Bruce S. Brunschwig, and Harry B. Gray, Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 12668-12670. “Assembly, Characterization, and Electrochemical Properties of Immobilized Metal Bipyridyl Complexes on Silicon(111) Surfaces.” Judith R. C. Lattimer, James D. Blakemore, Junko Yano, Bruce S. Brunschwig, Nathan S. Lewis, and Harry B. Gray, et al., Dalton Trans. 2014, 43, 15004-15012. “Noncovalent Immobilization of Electrocatalysts for Fuel Production on Carbon Electrodes.” James D. Blakemore, Ayush Gupta, Jeffrey J. Warren, Bruce S. Brunschwig, and Harry B. Gray, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 18288-18291. “Distinguishing Homogeneous from Heterogeneous Catalysis in Electrode-Driven Water Oxidation with Molecular Iridium Complexes.” Nathan D. Schley, James D. Blakemore, Navaneetha K. Subbaiyan, Christopher D. Incarvito, Francis D’Souza, Robert H. Crabtree, and Gary W. Brudvig, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 10473-10481. “Anodic Deposition of a Robust Iridium Water-Oxidation Catalyst from Organometallic Precursors.” James D. Blakemore, Nathan D. Schley, Gerard W. Olack, Christopher D. Incarvito, Gary W. Brudvig and Robert H. Crabtree, Chemical Science, 2011, 2, 94-98.

“Half-Sandwich Iridium Complexes for Homogeneous Water-Oxidation Catalysis.” James D. Blakemore, Nathan D. Schley, David Balcells, Jonathan F. Hull, Gerard W. Olack, Christopher D. Incarvito, Odile Eisenstein, Gary W. Brudvig, and Robert H. Crabtreee, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 16017-16029.