James Tour

Last updated

James Tour
JamesTour.jpg
Tour in 2018
Born
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater Syracuse University (BS)
Purdue University (PhD)
Known for Molecular electronics
Nanotechnology
Graphene production techniques
Carbon nanotube chemistry
Nanocar
NanoPutian
Awards Oesper Award (2021)
Centenary Prize (2020)
Trotter Prize (2014)
Feynman Prize (2008)
Scientific career
Fields Organic Chemistry
Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Institutions Rice University, 1999-present
University of South Carolina, 1988–1999
Thesis Metal-Promoted Cyclization and Transition-Metal-Promoted Carbonylative Cyclization Reactions  (1986)
Doctoral advisor Ei-ichi Negishi
Website www.jmtour.com

James Mitchell Tour is an American chemist, nanotechnologist and intelligent design proponent. He is a professor of chemistry and materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas. [1]

Contents

Education

Tour received degrees from Syracuse University (BS, 1981), Purdue University (PhD, 1986 under Ei-ichi Negishi) and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1986–1987) and Stanford University (1987–1988). [2]

Career and research

Tour's work is primarily focused on carbon materials chemistry and nanotechnology. Tour's work on carbon materials encompasses fullerene purification, [3] [4] composites, [5] [6] conductive inks for radio frequencies identification tags, [7] [8] carbon nanoreporters for identifying oil downhole, [9] [10] graphene synthesis from cookies and insects, [11] graphitic electronic devices, [12] [13] carbon particle drug delivery for treatment of traumatic brain injury, [14] [15] the merging of 2D graphene with 1D nanotubes to make a conjoined hybrid material, [16] a new graphene-nanotube 2D material called rebar graphene, [17] graphene quantum dots from coal, [18] gas barrier composites, [19] graphene nanoribbon deicing films, [20] supercapacitors and battery device structures, [21] [22] and water splitting to H2 and O2 using metal chalcogenides. [23]

In addition, Tour has conducted research on the synthesis of graphene oxide, [24] [25] its mechanism of formation, [26] and its use in capturing radionuclides from water. [27] Tour has developed oxide-based electronic memories that can also be transparent and built onto flexible substrates. [28] His group has also developed the use of porous metal structures to make renewable energy devices including batteries and supercapacitors, as well as electronic memories. [29]

More recently, the Tour group's work on laser-induced graphene (LIG) has led to further developments in the field including an array of device structures made from LIG foams. [30] His lab's discovery of the flash graphene process in 2019 for the 10-millisecond bulk formation of graphene from carbon sources including coal, petroleum coke, biochar, food waste and mixed plastic waste, may be beneficial to materials and waste upcycling. [31]

Tour worked in molecular electronics and molecular switching molecules. He pioneered the development of the Nanocar, single-molecule vehicles with four independently rotating wheels, axles, and light-activated motors. [32] Tour was the first to show that Feringa-based motors [33] can be used to move a molecule on a surface using light [34] as opposed to electric current from an STM tip. His early career focused upon the synthesis of conjugated polymers and precise oligomers. [35]

Tour has also been involved in scientific outreach, such as NanoKids, an interactive learning DVD to teach children fundamentals of chemistry and physics. [36] He also developed SciRave, a Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero package to teach science concepts to middle school and elementary school students.[ citation needed ] He has testified before the US Congress on two occasions to warn about budget cuts. [37]

In the Scientific American article "Better Killing Through Chemistry", which appeared a few months after the September 11 attacks, Tour highlighted the ease of obtaining chemical weapon precursors in the United States. [38]

Tour's lab's research into graphene scaffolding gel has been shown to repair spinal cords of paralyzed mice. [37]

Religion and evolution

Tour became a born-again Christian in graduate school, and in 2001 he signed the Discovery Institute's A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism statement that relies on pseudoscientific reasoning to offer various religiously motivated arguments against evolution. In a 2014 profile in The New Yorker , Tour was reported to have indicated that this signing "reflected only his personal doubts about how random mutation occurs at the molecular level. Although he ends e-mails with 'God bless', he says that, apart from a habit of praying for divine guidance, he feels that religion plays no part in his scientific work." [37] Tour has worked with Stephen C. Meyer to promote intelligent design. [39] [40] Tour has subsequently become more outspoken about his scepticism regarding origin of life research, including a debate with science YouTuber Dave Farina at a May 2023 event at Rice University. [41]

Bibliography

Honors and awards

References

  1. ↑ "James Tour | Faculty | The People of Rice | Rice University".
  2. ↑ "James M Tour Group".
  3. ↑ Scrivens, W. A.; Tour, J. M. (1992). "Synthesis of Gram Quantities of C60 by Plasma Discharge in a Modified Round-Bottomed Flask. Key Parameters for Yield Optimization and Purification". J. Org. Chem. 1992 (57): 6932–6936. doi:10.1021/jo00051a047.
  4. ↑ Scrivens, W. A.; Bedworth, P. V.; Tour, J. M. (1992). "Purification of Gram Quantities of C60. A New Inexpensive and Facile Method". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992 (114): 7917–7919. Bibcode:1992JAChS.114.7917S. doi:10.1021/ja00046a051.
  5. ↑ Higginbotham, A. L.; Moloney, P. G.; Waid, M. C.; Duque, J. G.; Kittrell, C.; Schmidt, H. K.; Stephenson, J. J.; Arepalli, S.; Yowell, L. L.; Tour, J. M. (2008). "Carbon Nanotube Composite Curing Through Absorption of Microwave Radiation". Composites Sci. Tech. 68 (15–16): 3087–3092. doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.07.004.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, C. A.; Bahr, J. L.; Arepalli, S.; Tour, J. M.; Krishnamoorti, R. (2002). "Dispersion of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in Polystyrene". Macromolecules. 35 (23): 8825–8830. Bibcode:2002MaMol..35.8825M. doi:10.1021/ma020890y.
  7. ↑ Jung, M.; Kim, J.; Noh, J.; Lim, N.; Lim, C.; Lee, G.; Kim, J.; Kang, H.; Jung, K.; Leonard, A.; Pyo, M.; Tour, J. M.; Cho, G. "All Printed and Roll-to-Roll Printable 13.56 MHz Operated 1-bit RF Tag on Plastic Foils," IEEE Trans. Elect. Dev 1 2010, 57, 571-580.
  8. ↑ Noh, J.; Jung, M.; Jung, K.; Lee, G.; Lim, S.; Kim, D.; Kim, S.; Tour, J. M.; Cho, G. (2011). "Integrable single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) network based thin film transistors using roll-to-roll gravure and inkjet". Org. Electronics. 12 (12): 2185–2191. doi:10.1016/j.orgel.2011.09.006.
  9. ↑ Berlin, J. M.; Yu, J.; Lu, W.; Walsh, E. E.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, P.; Chen, W.; Kan, A. T.; Wong, M. S.; Tomson, M. B.; Tour, J. M. (2011). "Engineered Nanoparticles for Hydrocarbon Detection in Oil-field Rocks". Energy Environ Sci. 2011 (4): 505–509. Bibcode:2011EnEnS...4..505B. doi:10.1039/c0ee00237b.
  10. ↑ Hwang, C.-C.; Wang, L.; Lu, W.; Ruan, G.; Kini, G. C.; Xiang, C.; Samuel, E. L. G.; Shi, W.; Kan, A. T.; Wong, M. S.; Tomson, M. B.; Tour, J. M. (2012). "Highly Stable Carbon Nanoparticles Designed for Downhole Hydrocarbon Detection". Energy Environ Sci. 2012 (5): 8304–8309. Bibcode:2012EnEnS...5.8304H. doi:10.1039/c2ee21574h.
  11. ↑ Ruan, G.; Sun, Z.; Peng, Z.; Tour, J. M. (2011). "Growth of Graphene from Food, Insects, and Waste". ACS Nano. 5 (9): 7601–7607. doi:10.1021/nn202625c. PMID   21800842.
  12. ↑ Sinitskii, A.; Tour, J. M. (2009). "Lithographic Graphitic Memories". ACS Nano. 3 (9): 2760–2766. doi:10.1021/nn9006225. PMID   19719147.
  13. ↑ Li, Y.; Sinitskii, A.; Tour, J. M. (2008). "Electronic Two-Terminal Bistable Graphitic Memories". Nature Materials. 7 (12): 966–971. Bibcode:2008NatMa...7..966L. doi:10.1038/nmat2331. PMID   19011617.
  14. ↑ Sano, D.; Berlin, J. M.; Pham, T. T.; Marcano, D. C.; Valdecanas, D. R.; Zhou, G.; Milas, L.; Myers, J. N.; Tour, J. M. (2012). "Noncovalent Assembly of Targeted Carbon Nanovectors Enables Synergistic Drug and Radiation Cancer Therapy in Vivo". ACS Nano. 6 (3): 2497–2505. doi:10.1021/nn204885f. PMC   3314092 . PMID   22316245.
  15. ↑ Sharpe, M. A.; Marcano, D. C.; Berlin, J. M.; Widmayer, M. A.; Baskin, D. S.; Tour, J. M. (2012). "Antibody-Targeted Nanovectors for the Treatment of Brain Cancers". ACS Nano. 6 (4): 3114–3120. doi:10.1021/nn2048679. PMID   22390360.
  16. ↑ Zhu, Y.; Li, L.; Zhang, C.; Casillas, G.; Sun, Z.; Yan, Z.; Ruan, G.; Peng, Z.; Raji, A.-R. O.; Kittrell, C.; Hauge, R. H.; Tour, J. M. (2012). "A Seamless Three-Dimensional Carbon Nanotube Graphene Hybrid Material". Nature Communications. 3: 1225. Bibcode:2012NatCo...3.1225Z. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2234 . PMID   23187625.
  17. ↑ Yan, Z.; Peng, Z.; Casillas, G.; Lin, J.; Xiang, C.; Zhou, H.; Yang, Y.; Ruan, G.; Raji, A.-R. O.; Samuel, E. L. G.; Hauge, R. H.; Yacaman, M. J.; Tour, J. M. (2014). "Rebar Graphene". ACS Nano. 8 (5): 5061–5068. doi:10.1021/nn501132n. PMC   4046778 . PMID   24694285.
  18. ↑ Ye, R.; Xiang, C.; Lin, J.; Peng, Z.; Huang, K.; Yan, Z.; Cook, N. P.; Samuel, E. L. G.; Hwang, C.-C.; Ruan, G.; Ceriotti, G.; Raji, A.-R. O.; Martí, A. A.; Tour, J. M. (2013). "Coal as an Abundant Source of Graphene Quantum Dots". Nature Communications. 4 (2943): 1–6. Bibcode:2013NatCo...4.2943Y. doi: 10.1038/ncomms3943 . PMID   24309588.
  19. ↑ Xiang, C.; Cox, P. J.; Kukovecz, A.; Genorio, B.; Hashim, D. P.; Yan, Z.; Peng, Z.; Hwang, C.-C.; Ruan, G.; Samuel, E. L. G.; Sudeep, P. M.; Konya, Z.; Vajtai, R.; Ajayan, P. M.; Tour, J. M. (2013). "Functionalized Low Defect Graphene Nanoribbons and Polyurethane Composite Film for Improved Gas Barrier and Mechanical Performances" (PDF). ACS Nano. 7 (11): 10380–10386. doi:10.1021/nn404843n. PMID   24102568.
  20. ↑ Volman, V.; Zhu, Y.; Raji, A.-R.; Genorio, B.; Lu, W.; Xiang, C.; Kittrell, C.; Tour, J. M. (2014). "Radio-Frequency-Transparent, Electrically Conductive Graphene Nanoribbon Thin Films as Deicing Heating Layers". ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 6 (1): 298–304. doi:10.1021/am404203y. PMID   24328320.
  21. ↑ Yang, Y.; Fan, X.; Casillas, G.; Peng, Z.; Ruan, G.; Wang, G.; Yacaman, M. J.; Tour, J. M. (2014). "Three-Dimensional Nanoporous Fe2O3/Fe3C Graphene Heterogeneous Thin Films for Lithium-Ion Batteries". ACS Nano. 8 (4): 3939–3946. doi:10.1021/nn500865d. PMC   4004288 . PMID   24669862.
  22. ↑ Zhang, C.; Peng, Z.; Lin, J.; Zhu, Y. Ruan; Hwang, C.-C.; Lu, W.; Hauge, R. H.; Tour, J. M. (2013). "Splitting of a Vertical Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Carpet to a Graphene Nanoribbon Carpet and Its Use in Supercapacitors". ACS Nano. 7 (6): 5151–5159. doi:10.1021/nn400750n. PMID   23672653.
  23. ↑ Lin, J.; Peng, Z.; Wang, G.; Zakhidov, D.; Larios, E.; Yacaman, M. J.; Tour, J. M. (2014). "Enhanced Electrocatalysis for Hydrogen Evolution Reactions from WS2 Nanoribbons". Advanced Energy Materials. 4 (10) 1301875. Bibcode:2014AdEnM...401875L. doi:10.1002/aenm.201301875. S2CID   96788831.
  24. ↑ Dimiev, A. M.; Alemany, L. B.; Tour, J. M. (2013). "Graphene Oxide. Origin of Acidity, Its Instability in Water, and a New Dynamic Structural Model". ACS Nano. 7 (1): 576–588. doi:10.1021/nn3047378. PMID   23215236.
  25. ↑ Zhu, Y.; James, D. K.; Tour, J. M. (2012). "New Routes to Graphene, Graphene Oxide and Their Related Applications". Adv. Mater. 24 (36): 4924–4955. Bibcode:2012AdM....24.4924Z. doi:10.1002/adma.201202321. PMID   22903803. S2CID   205246630.
  26. ↑ Dimiev, A. M.; Tour, J. M. (2014). "Mechanism of Graphene Oxide Formation". ACS Nano. 8 (3): 3060–3068. doi: 10.1021/nn500606a . hdl: 1911/77432 . PMID   24568241.
  27. ↑ Romanchuk, A. Yu.; Slesarev, A. S.; Kalmykov, S. N.; Kosynkin, D. V.; Tour, J. M. (2013). "Graphene Oxide for Effective Radionuclide Removal". Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15 (7): 2321–2327. Bibcode:2013PCCP...15.2321R. doi:10.1039/c2cp44593j. PMID   23296256.
  28. ↑ Yao, J.; Lin, J.; Dai, Y.; Ruan, G.; Yan, Z.; Li, L.; Zhong, L.; Natelson, D.; Tour, J. M. (2012). "Highly Transparent Nonvolatile Resistive Memory Devices from Silicon Oxide and Graphene". Nature Communications. 3: 1–8. Bibcode:2012NatCo...3.1101Y. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2110 . PMID   23033077.
  29. ↑ Yang, Y.; Ruan, G.; Xiang, C.; Wang, G.; Tour, J. M. (2014). "Flexible Three-Dimensional Nanoporous Metal-Based Energy Devices". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014 (136): 6187–6190. Bibcode:2014JAChS.136.6187Y. doi:10.1021/ja501247f. PMID   24735477.
  30. ↑ Stanford, Michael G.; Li, John T.; Chen, Yuda; McHugh, Emily A.; Liopo, Anton; Xiao, Han; Tour, James M. (October 22, 2019). "Self-Sterilizing Laser-Induced Graphene Bacterial Air Filter". ACS Nano. 13 (10): 11912–11920. doi:10.1021/acsnano.9b05983. ISSN   1936-0851. PMID   31560513. S2CID   203581358.
  31. ↑ Luong, Duy X.; Bets, Ksenia V.; Algozeeb, Wala Ali; Stanford, Michael G.; Kittrell, Carter; Chen, Weiyin; Salvatierra, Rodrigo V.; Ren, Muqing; McHugh, Emily A.; Advincula, Paul A.; Wang, Zhe (January 2020). "Gram-scale bottom-up flash graphene synthesis". Nature. 577 (7792): 647–651. Bibcode:2020Natur.577..647L. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-1938-0 . ISSN   1476-4687. PMID   31988511.
  32. ↑ Chu, P.-L.; Wang, L.-Y.; Khatua, S.; Kolomeisky, A.; Link, S.; Tour, J. M. (2013). "Synthesis and Single-Molecule Imaging of Highly Mobile Adamantane-Wheeled Nanocars". ACS Nano. 7 (1): 35–41. doi:10.1021/nn304584a. PMID   23189917.
  33. ↑ Carroll, GT; Pollard, MM; van Delden, RA; Feringa, BL (2010). "Controlled rotary motion of light-driven molecular motors assembled on a gold surface" (PDF). Chemical Science. 1 (1): 97–101. doi:10.1039/C0SC00162G. hdl:11370/4fb63d6d-d764-45e3-b3cb-32a4c629b942. S2CID   97346507.
  34. ↑ Saywell, Alex; Bakker, Anne; Mielke, Johannes; Kumagai, Takashi; Wolf, Martin; García-López, Víctor; Chiang, Pinn-Tsong; Tour, James M.; Grill, Leonhard (2016). "Light-induced Translation of Motorized Molecules on a Surface" (PDF). ACS Nano. 10 (12): 10945–10952. doi:10.1021/acsnano.6b05650. PMID   27783488. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  35. ↑ Tour, J. M. (1996). "Conjugated Macromolecules of Precise Length and Constitution. Organic Synthesis for the Construction of Nanoarchitectures". Chem. Rev. 1996 (96): 537–553. doi:10.1021/cr9500287. PMID   11848764.
  36. ↑ Rovner, Sophie L.; C; Washington, En (January 21, 2025). "'Nanokids' Try to Get into Middle School" . Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  37. 1 2 3 Colapinto, John (December 14, 2014). "Material Question". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  38. ↑ Musser, George (November 2001). "Better Killing through Chemistry: Buying chemical weapons material through the mail is quick and easy" . Scientific American . 285 (6): 20–1. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1201-20. PMID   11759580 . Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  39. ↑ "Extravagant Claims: James Tour & Stephen Meyer Critique Origin of Life Research". Discovery Institute .
  40. ↑ "Beyond Evolution: Unraveling the Origins of Life with Stephen Meyer and James Tour". Hoover Institute . August 5, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Rice's James Tour and YouTuber 'Professor Dave' debate the origins of life". Rice's James Tour and YouTuber 'Professor Dave' debate the origins of life - The Rice Thresher. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  42. ↑ Buriak, Jillian M.; Maier, Stefan A.; Parak, Wolfgang J.; Wee, Andrew T. S.; Weiss, Paul S. (2012). "Announcing the Recipients of the 2012 ACS Nano Lectureship Awards" . ACS Nano. 6 (2): 987–989. doi:10.1021/nn300584t.
  43. ↑ Williams, Mike (November 18, 2016). "9 Rice faculty on prominent 'highly cited' list". Rice University. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  44. ↑ https://www.rsc.org/prizes-funding/prizes/find-a-prize/centenary-prizes/previous-winners/
  45. ↑ "Dr. James Mitchell Tour". National Academy of Egineering.
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