Eric Rivard

Biography

Eric Rivard is a professor belongs to the department of Chemistry from the university of Alberta.

Research Interest

Research Research in our group lies within the general realm of synthetic Inorganic and Polymer Chemistry, with particular focus given to addressing important challenges in the fields of solar energy, catalysis and chemical sensing. In addition, through our chemical explorations, we hope to gain fundamental insight into the nature of bonding and reactivity across the Period Table. Consequently, researchers in the Rivard group will be exposed to a number of advanced synthesis and characterization techniques, including quantum mechanical (DFT) methods. Donor-acceptor Stabilization of Reactive Inorganic Species: From Chemical Curiosities to the Synthesis of Advanced Materials The discovery of new compounds that exhibit unique or unusual bonding and chemical reactivity is what motivates many researchers who study Inorganic Chemistry. This research ensures the future growth of Chemistry as a discipline, and can often lead to the development of new advanced materials and technologies that benefit society as a whole. Along these lines, we have been exploring a donor-acceptor approach towards isolating a wide range of species that were either completely unknown before, or were only present as fleeting intermediates in chemical processes. One such example is GeH2, which is a key intermediate in the synthesis of semiconducting Ge metal from GeH4: We have also extended our donor-acceptor (LB-LA) protocol to include the isolation of heavy methylene and ethylene analogues, such as SiH2, SnH2, H2SiGeH2 and H2SiSnH2, in the form of stable adducts. We are currently exploring the efficient conversion of these hydrides into functional nanoparticles, including the highly desirable thermoelectric material SiGe.