Mukunda Ghimire
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Most of our projects are interdisciplinary in nature that entails scientific protocols from design, synthesis, and characterization to direct application of molecular materials.
We employ a variety of modern synthetic and analytical techniques including Schlenk and globe box methods, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence studies, UV-Vis-NIR absorption and diffuse reflectance, X-ray crystallography, and GC/HPLC. Computational studies are often used in our work. Currently, we are collaborating closely with several research groups around the world. The Following section highlights ongoing work and areas of current interest.
Luminescent materials: Advancement in the current emissive technology demands emitting materials that can surpass the performance of the current state-of-the-art materials for energy-efficient consumer electronic devices, solid-state-lighting, and signage industries. Therefore, we are developing materials based on closed-shell transition metal ions that exhibit either metal-centered phosphorescent emission or phosphorescent emission triggered by heavy-atom effects with potential external quantum efficiency up to 100%. Neutral and ionic luminescent complexes we have developed emit light of various colors (spanning from blue to red) upon excitation and have ideal properties for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs) respectively. We are also interested in the fundamental chemistry of, and new technology for environmental sensing applications to detect and capture toxic gases and heavy metals by using these luminescent materials.
Organometallic and coordination complexes for biomedical applications: We are working to synthesize and study the biomedical and luminescent properties of monometallic gold(I) thiolate and organoplatinum complexes in addition to heterobimetallic gold-platinum complexes. The development of these complexes with significant potential in the biological application such as bioimaging and anti-cancer or anti-microbial is an area of current activity.
Supramolecular chemistry: We are analyzing the factors involved in the interaction between coinage metal complexes and organic molecules to form molecular aggregates. Our efforts are underway to study the supramolecular structural motifs of coinage metal complexes that are known for metallophilic interactions with organic donor or acceptor molecules. These donor-acceptor adducts have the potential to be used in photovoltaic and conducting applications.
Study of metal-metal and metal-ligand bonding: We are interested in the fundamental chemistry and new synthetic method of closed-shell heteronuclear transition metal complexes with bi-nucleating ligands exhibiting heteroatoms by implementing the HSAB principle. This research is a platform for us to investigate the metal-metal and metal-ligand bonding and interaction closely. Additionally, these heteronuclear complexes will be excellent phosphors with improved luminescence properties with respect to their homonuclear counterpart.
Publications
Undergraduate co-authors denoted with *
Ghimire, M. M.; Simon, O. C.; Harris, L. M.; Mitch, R.*; Appiah, A.*; Nesterov, V. N.; Macchioni, A.; Zuccaccia, C.; Galassi, R.; Omary, M. A. Supramolecular Structures, Magento-Opto-Electronic Properties and Potential Applications of Binary Donor-acceptor Integrated Stacks of TTF-Like Donors and Cyclic Trinuclear Acceptor Complexes of Monovalent Coinage Metals. Inorg. Chem., 2019, 58, 22, 15303-15319.
Dias, H.V.R.; Diyabalanage, H.V.K.; Ghimire, M.M.; Hudson, J.M.; Parasar, D.; Palehepitiya Gamage, C.S.; Li, S.; Omary, M.A. Brightly Phosphorescent Tetranuclear Copper(I) Pyrazolates. Dalton Trans. 2019, 48, 14979-14983.
Abdou, H. E.; Mohamed, A.A.; Fackler, J.P.; Ghimire, M. M.; Omary, M. A. et al. Synthesis of Selected Transition Metal and Main Group Compounds with Synthetic Applications. Inorganic Syntheses, 2018, 37, 155-204.
Han, X.; Zhang, D.; Selke, M.; Klausmeyer, K.; Ghimire, M. M.; Harris, L. M.; Omary, M. A.; Farmer, P. J. Mechanistic Investigations of Photo-induced Oxygenation of Ru(II) Bis-bipyridyl Flavonolate Complexes. Inorg. Chem., 2018, 57, 2416-2424.
Ghimire, M. M.; Nesterov, V. N.; Omary, M. A. Remarkable Aurophilicity and Photoluminescence Thermochromism in a Homoleptic Cyclic Tri-nuclear Gold(I)-Imidazolate Complex. Inorg. Chem., 2017, 56, 12086-12089.
Galassi, R.; Ghimire, M. M.; Otten, B. M.; Ricci, S.; McDougald, R. N., Jr.; Almotawa, R. M.; Alhmoud, D.; Ivy, J. F.; Rawashdeh, A. M.; Nesterov, V. N.; Reinheimer, E. W.; Daniels, L. M.; Burini, A.; Omary, M. A. Cupriphication of Gold to Sensitize d10-d10 Metal-Metal Bonds and Near Unity Phosphorescence Quantum Yields. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2017, 114, E5042-E5051.
Chilukuri, B.; McDougald, R. N., Jr.; Ghimire, M. M.; Nesterov, V. N.; Mazur, U.; Omary, M. A.; Hipps, K. W. Polymorphic, Porous, and Host-Guest Nanostructures Directed by Monolayer-Substrate Interactions: Epitaxial Self-Assembly Study of Cyclic Trinuclear Au(I) Complexes on HOPG at Solution-Solid Interface. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2015, 119, 24844-24858.
Bruner, B.; Walker, M. B.; Ghimire, M. M.; Zhang, D.; Selke, M.; Klausmeyer, K.; Omary, M. A.; Farmer, P. J. Ligand-based Photooxidations of Dithiomaltolato Complexes of Ru(II) and Zn(II): Photolytic CH Activation and Evidence of Singlet Oxygen Generation and Quenching. Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 11548-111556.
Student Presentations
Undergraduate co-authors denoted with *
Mitch, R.*; Ghimire, M.M. “Homometallic Tri- and Tetranuclear Copper(I) and Silver(I) Phosphorescent Complexes of Pyrazolate and Phosphinopyridyl Mixed-ligands.” 259th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Philadelphia, PA, United States, March 22-26 (2020), INOR-0271.
Appiah, A.*; Ghimire, M.M. “Gold(I) Thiolate Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biomedical Properties”. 22nd Annual Chemical and Biological Sciences Research Symposium, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A., October 19, 2019. (2nd Place Award Winner)
Mitch, R.*; Ghimire, M.M. “Synthesis, Characterization, and Photophysical Properties of Three-coordinated Tetranuclear Coinage Metal(I) Complexes of Phosphinopyridyl and Pyrazolate Mixed-Ligands.” 22nd Annual Chemical and Biological Sciences Research Symposium, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A., October 19, 2019.
Mitch, R.*; Ghimire, M.M. “Synthesis, Characterization, and Photophysical Properties of Three-coordinated Tetranuclear Coinage Metal(I) Complexes of Phosphinopyridyl and Pyrazolate Mixed-Ligands.” 47th Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Baltimore, MD, United States, May 30-June 1(2019), MARM-230.
Harris, L.M.; Mitch, R.*; Nesterov, V.; Omary, M.A.; Ghimire, M.M. “Highly Efficient Heteroleptic Monovalent Coinage Metal Phosphors for Modern Display, Signage, and Lighting Apps.” 257th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Orlando, FL, U.S.A. March 31 – April 4, 2019.
Ghimire, M.M.; Switcher, R.*; Mitch, R. M.*; Appiah, A*. “Design, synthesis, and photophysical properties of highly efficient d10-/and/or d8 transition metal-based complexes.” ACS Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting, Bethlehem, PA, U.S.A., June 3, 2018, MARM-27.
Mitch, R.*; Ghimire, M.M. “Highly Efficient Heterobimetallic Au(I)/Ag(I) and Au(I)/Cu(I) Phosphors for Modern Display, Signage and Lighting Apps.” 21st Annual Chemical and Biological Sciences Research Symposium, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A., October 20, 2018. (2nd Place Award Winner)
- CHM 111: Principle of Chemistry I
- CHM 112: Principle of Chemistry II
- CHM 113: Introductory Laboratory I
- CHM 114: Introductory Laboratory II
- CHM 222: Introductory Inorganic Chemistry
- CHM 230: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
- CHM 411: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry