Graduate Research Highlights
Karoline Garcia-Pedraza
PhD student in Dr. Watson's lab.
My research is focused on the synthesis of doped-quantum dot/MxV2O5 heterostructures and characterization of their photoinduced interfacial charge-transfer dynamics for applications in photocatalytic CO2 reduction and hydrogen generation.
As a graduate student, I find it incredibly enriching to have daily opportunities for learning, professional growth, and meaningful interactions with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds. These experiences broadened my perspective and helped me to become a better and more empathetic person.
Outside the lab, I make my well-being a priority by going to the gym and practicing meditation to stay grounded, especially during busy times of the semester. Additionally, I enjoy spending time with my family in Rochester.
- 2024-2025 College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship
- 2024 Marjorie E. Winkler Fellowship and James T. Grey, Jr. Fellowship
- 2023 ACS Bridge Career & Professional Development Award
Oral Presentations
- García-Pedraza, K. E.; Watson, D. F. “Heterostructured Photocatalysts of Ni2+ Doped CdS Quantum Dots and β-Pb0.33V2O5 Nanowires: Towards Selective CO2 Reduction.” American Chemical Society National Meeting Spring 2023; Indianapolis, IN. March 26-30, 2023., contributed. Abstract selected for presentation at Sci-Mix.
- García-Pedraza, K. E.; Watson, D. F. “Heterostructured photocatalysts of Ni2+ doped CdS quantum dots and β-Pb0.33v2o5 nanowires: Towards selective CO2 reduction.” American Chemical Society Northeast Regional Meeting 2022; Rochester, NY. October 2-5, 2022., invited.
poster Presentations
- García-Pedraza, K. E.; Ayala, J. R.; Banerjee, S.; Watson, D. F. “Heterostructured Photocatalysts of Ni(II)-Doped CdS Quantum Dots and β-Pb0.33V2O5 Nanowires: Towards Selective CO2 Reduction.” American Chemical Society National Meeting Fall 2024; Denver, CO. August 18-22, 2024. contributed.
- García-Pedraza, K. E.; Watson, D. F. “Heterostructured Photocatalysts of Ni2+ Doped CdS Quantum Dots and β-Pb0.33V2O5 Nanowires: Towards Selective CO2 Reduction.” 2023 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting; San Francisco, CA. April 10-14, 2023. contributed.
- García-Pedraza, K. E.; Ayala, J. R.; Wijethyunga, U.; Giem, A. R.; Agbeworvi, G.; Banerjee, S.; Watson, D. F. Heterostructures of Ni(II)-doped CdS quantum dots and β-Pb0.33V2O5 nanowires: Enhanced charge separation and redox photocatalysis via doping of QDs. Nano Research 2024, ASAP article. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6675-5
- Ayala, J. R.†; García-Pedraza, K. E.†; Giem, A. R.; Wijethunga, U.; Hariyani, S.; Carrillo, L.; Jaye, C.; Weiland, C.; Fischer, D. A.; Watson, D. F.; Banerjee, S. Interface-Modulated Kinetic Differentials in Electron and Hole Transfer Rates as a Key Design Principle for Redox Photocatalysis by Sb2VO5/QD Heterostructures. J. Chem. Phys. 2024, 160, 194703. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0201550
† equal contribution - Zaheer, W.; McGranahan, C. R.; Ayala, J. R.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Carrillo, L. J.; Rothfuss, A. R. R.; Wijethunga, U.; Agbeworvi, G.; Giem, A. R.; Andrews, J. L.; Handy, J. V.; Perez-Beltran, S.; Caledron-Oliver, R.; Ma, L.; Ehrlich, S. N.; Jaye, C.; Weiland, C.; Fischer, D.A.; Watson, D. F.; Banerjee, S. “Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution mechanisms mediated by stereoactive lone pairs of Sb2VO5 in quantum dot heterostructures.” Chem Catalysis 2024, 4, 100844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.checat.2023.100844
- Rothfuss, R. M.; Ayala, J. R.; Handy, J. V.; McGranahan, C. R.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Banerjee, S.; Watson, D. F. “Linker-Assisted Assembly of Ligand-Bridged CdS/MoS2 Heterostructures: Tunable Light-Harvesting Properties and Ligand-Dependent Control of Charge-Transfer Dynamics and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 39966-39979. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.3c06722
- Handy, J.V.; Zaheer, W.; Rothfuss, A. R. R.; McGranahan, C. R.; Agbeworvi, G.; Andrews, J. L.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Ponis, J. D.; Ayala, J. R.; Ding, Y.; Watson, D. F.; Banerjee, S. “Lone but Not Alone: Precise Positioning of Lone Pairs for the Design of Photocatalytic Architectures.” Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 1439-1458. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemmater.1c03762