# CAS: First Row Metal Pincer Catalysts: Exploitation of a Long-Lived Nickel(II) Excited State for Self-Sensitized Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Beyond

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Alabama Tuscaloosa (AL) · $600,000

## Abstract

With the support of the Chemical Catalysis Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Elizabeth Papish of the University of Alabama is studying the development of nickel catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuel precursors and organic building blocks for pharmaceutical products. Carbon dioxide is readily available from fossil fuel combustion, but it is challenging to use in chemical reactions. New nickel complexes have been discovered with record-setting, long-lived excited states, which serve to capture solar energy and enable new catalytic transformations with carbon dioxide. Current work ongoing in the Papish group includes 1) systematically modifying new nickel and cobalt catalysts to improve their activity for reactions with carbon dioxide, 2) studying the reactivity of these molecules using spectroscopy, crystallography and other methods to understand and visualize how the molecules interact to lead to a lower energy pathway, and 3) testing new types of reactivity to insert carbon dioxide into organic molecules and thereby form valuable products which can lead to fuels, pharmaceutical products, and other high value chemicals. This project is being used to train graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Alabama.

There is an urgent need to develop better catalysts to use abundant carbon dioxide sources for commodity chemical synthesis. Specifically, Prof. Papish and her research team are determining how ligand structure-function relatio

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2452971
- **Awardee organization:** University of Alabama Tuscaloosa (AL)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RCNJEHZ83EV6
- **PI:** Elizabeth T Papish
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAS-Critical Aspects of Sustainability, Advanced Manufacturing, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $600,000
- **Funds obligated:** $600,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2452971

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2452971, CAS: First Row Metal Pincer Catalysts: Exploitation of a Long-Lived Nickel(II) Excited State for Self-Sensitized Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Beyond. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2452971. Licensed CC0.

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