The Holliday Research Group is broadly interested in studying problems at the interface of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry. In this area of inorganic materials, our interdisciplinary research includes the study of both small molecule and polymeric structures containing transition and f-block metals. Current research projects range from classic organometallic chemistry issues of transition metal bonding and reactivity to the synthesis of complex inorganic/organic hybrid structures and metallopolymers.

Many of our research goals stem from the basic premise that the incorporation of active metal complexes directly into the backbone of conducting polymers has the potential to produce new hybrid materials which take full advantage of the unique properties of both components. In addition to the fabrication of new materials and devices, we strive to design and synthesize clever model systems to gain an understanding of the most fundamental properties and phenomena of conducting metallopolymer architectures (i.e. mechanisms of conductivity, redox-controlled binding, inter- vs. intra-chain charge transport, etc.).

Long-term goals of our research include the development of novel polymer supported catalysts, light-emitting diodes, separation technologies, and photovoltaics based on conducting metallopolymers. Toward these goals, the skills of organic and inorganic synthesis and characterization are developed with the specific aim of producing and studying innovative materials with tangible applications.