Ksenija Glusac
Professor
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About
The Glusac group studies photocatalysis and electro-catalysis and target chemical transformations that are important for chemical industry and energy. Our work integrates cutting-edge techniques in molecular synthesis, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy. We actively welcome collaboration and inquiries, as we aim to drive progress in energy research and technology. Our lab conducts three primary lines of investigation:
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Molecular Electrodes: We are creating a new generation of molecule–electrode hybrid materials by attaching tunable molecular electrocatalysts—covalently or noncovalently—to conductive surfaces. Our goal is to discover how immobilization and the intense electric fields at electrode–electrolyte interfaces reshape catalyst behavior, selectivity, and efficiency. By focusing on energy-relevant transformations such as hydrogenation and oxygen-atom transfer, we aim to unite the molecular precision of homogeneous catalysts with the practicality of solid electrodes, opening new pathways toward cleaner and more sustainable chemical technologies. Ultimately, we envision molecular electrodes as programmable catalytic interfaces that can transform electricity into valuable fuels and chemicals with unprecedented control.
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Light Harvesting and Photocatalysis: In this project, we develop strategies to assemble organic chromophores into functional light-harvesting architectures. We examine how chromophore orientation within supramolecular assemblies governs excited-state energy transfer and symmetry-breaking charge transfer. We also integrate these light-harvesting motifs with homogeneous transition-metal catalysts to enable industrially relevant transformations. Ultimately, we aim to harness light to inspire cleaner, more sustainable approaches to chemical synthesis.
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Molecular Redox Carriers: Natural systems provide remarkable examples of redox carriers—molecules that transport redox equivalents such as electrons, hydrogen atoms, and hydride ions. Prominent examples include flavins, NADH, and quinones. In this project, we develop synthetic analogues of these carriers and explore their applications in catalysis. We focus particularly on organic hydride donors and the molecular factors that govern the thermodynamics and kinetics of hydride transfer. By learning from nature, we aim to design versatile catalytic systems that enable cleaner and more sustainable chemical transformations.
Selected Publications
- B. Behera, X. Zheng, H. Xie, A. Darù, M. Maurya, D. Zangeneh, X. Kong, N. Lata, A. Sarkar, J. Hofmann, A. Kumar, Š. Kunstelj, J. Bryant, M. Delferro, K. Chapman, A. Wuttig, R. Klie, R. Getman, O. Farha, L. Gagliardi, and K. Glusac
Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation with Nanoparticles Derived from a Cobalt Metal–Organic Framework
J. Am. Chem. Soc.2026, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c11639 - Zheng, X; Gupta, N; He, H; Bindra, J. K; Hossain, S; Vizuet, J. P; Nadeali, A; Zangeneh, D; Singh, R. P; Klie, R. F; Chaplin, B. P; Brezinsky, K; Poluektov, O. G; Niklas, J; Zapol, P; Glusac, K. D.
A Light-Responsive Metal-Organic Framework with Perchlorinated Nanographene Ligands
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c02844 - Askins, E; Sarkar, A; Navabi, P; Kumar, K; Finkelmeyer, S; Presselt, M; Cabana, J; Glusac, K.
Interfacial Electrochemistry of Catalyst-Coordinated Graphene Nanoribbons
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05250 - Askins, E.; Zoric, M.; Amine, R.; Amine, K.; Glusac, K.
Li-O2 Battery Discharge Redox Mediation by Triarylmethyl Cations
Nat. Chem. 2023, DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01268-0 - Glusac, K. D; Saicic, R. N.,
Are science and technology friends or foes?
Nat. Chem. 2023, DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01171-8 - Ilic, S.; Gesiorski J. L.; Weerasooriya R. B. and Glusac, K. D.
Biomimetic Metal-Free Hydride Donor Catalysts for CO2 Reduction
Acc. Chem. Res. 2022, DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00708 - Askins, E. J.; Zoric, M. R.; Li, M.; Luo, Z.; Amine, K. and Glusac, K. D.
Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Electrocatalytic Nanocarbon
Nat. Commun. 2021, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23486-1 - C.-H. Lim, S. Ilic, A. Alherz, B. T. Worrell, S. S. Bacon, J. T. Hynes, K. D. Glusac. and C. B. Musgrave
Benzimidazoles as Metal-Free and Recyclable Hydrides for CO2 Reduction to Formate
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b09653. - Ilic, U. P. Kadel, Y. Basdogan, J. A. Keith and K. D. Glusac
Thermodynamic Hydricities of Biomimetic Organic Hydride Donors
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b13526. - K. D. Glusac
What Has Light Ever Done for Chemistry?
Nat. Chem. 2016, 8, 734-735 DOI:10.1038/nchem.2582. - D. Zhou, R. Khatmullin, J. Walpitha, N. A. Miller, H. L. Luk, S. Vyas, C. M. Hadad, K. D. Glusac
The Fast Excited-State Heterolytic C–OH Bond Cleavage of 9-hydroxy-10-methyl-9-phenyl-9,10-dihydroacridine: A Photoemitter of Hydroxide Anions
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 11301, DOI: 10.1021/ja3031888 - E. Mirzakulova, R. Khatmullin, J. Walpita, T. Corrigan, N. M. Vargas-Barbosa, S. Vyas, S. Ottikkal, S. Manzer, C. M. Hadad, K. D. Glusac
Electrode-assisted Catalytic Water Oxidation by a Flavin Derivative
Nat. Chem. 2012, 4, 794. DOI: 10.1038/nchem.143
Education
B.S., University of Belgrade, Serbia 1999
Ph.D., University of Florida 2003
ACS PRF Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University 2004-2006