Dr. Mark Mehn is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Functional bimetallic water-gas shift catalysts are proposed for the conversion of carbon monoxide and water (or hydroxide) to carbon dioxide and dihydrogen. Many of the current catalysts are not only costly but also function best as very high temperatures. Nature carries out a comparable chemical transformation at ambient temperatures with inexpensive nickel/iron and copper/molybdenum active sites in carbon monoxide dehydrogenases. Bio-inspired heterobimetallic catalysts for hydrogen production and water gas shift catalysis are being produced to better meet societal needs for sustainable energy production.