Professor Education: B.A., University of Pennsylvania, PA (1983); Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1988) Awards: NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, (1988-90); NSF - Presidential Young Investigator (1991-6); Fulbright Scholar (2002) Email: michael.lerner@oregonstate.edu Office: Gilbert Hall 207 Phone: (541) 737-6747 Fax: (541) 737-2062 Class websites: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 411/511  412/512  411-400 (web) Energy Storage Technology 407H General Chemistry 225H Advanced Integrated Lab 462/462H

Our group studies the synthesis and novel properties of intercalation compounds and nanocomposites. Some important applications of these materials lie in batteries, fuel cells, and new structural materials. A major component of our work has been the study of graphite compounds, which involves modification of the layered form of carbon, which is a challenging chemical problem but an important technological material. We've developed new synthetic strategies and new graphite compounds, and are exploring their electrochemical properties in detail. Our work with nanocomposites involves the combination of polymers with layered inorganic hosts at a nanometer scale. This can lead to novel structures and properties when compared with more conventional micron-scaled composites materials. We have ongoing collaborations with industry to help understand chemical issues in new applying new materials and reactions to real products.

Representative Publications

• Chemical synthesis of graphite bis(perfluoropinacolato)borate and graphite bis(hexafluorohydroxyisobutyrato)borate intercalation compounds, Carbon, 2007, 45 (13), 2672-2677.
• Effect of reaction time on the composition of graphite bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, Carbon, 2007, 45 (3), 499-504.
• Layered Metal Chalcogenides, M. Lerner, and C. Oriakhi, in Handbook of Layered Materials, S Auerbach, K Carrado, P Dutta, eds, Marcel Dekker: New York, 2004, pp. 509-540.
• Synthesis and Structural Investigation of New Graphite Intercalation Compounds Containing the Perfluoroalkylsulfonate Anions C₁₀F₂₁SO₃^–, C₂F₅OC₂F₄SO₃^–, and C₂F₅(C₆F₁₀)SO₃^–, Carbon, 2004, 42 (14), 2981-2987.
• Electrochemical Preparation and Characterization of a Graphite Bis(hexafluoro-2-hydroxyisobutyrato) borate Intercalation Compound, J Electrochem Soc, 2004, 151 (2), J15-J20.
• Rapid Syntheses of Nanocomposites with Layered Tetratitanate using Ultrasound, J Mater Sci Eng, 2003, A354, 180.
• Nanocomposites and Intercalation Compounds, in Encyclopedia of Physical Science & Technology, 3rd Ed., Acad. Press, San Diego, 2001.
• Preparation of Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposites with a Layered Titanate, Chem Mater, 2001, 13 (6), 2179-2185.