Cynthia Friend

Cynthia Friend is a Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Materials Science at Harvard University, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Her research focuses on catalysis, energy-related materials, and physical/chemical physics. Her work includes developing mechanistic frameworks for selective catalytic syntheses, investigating hybrid metal/metal oxide materials for chemical and photocatalysis, and exploring methods for controlled doping of semiconductor materials. She is also involved in solar energy research funded by the NSF and collaborates with multiple Harvard research centers. Friend is on the editorial board of several scientific journals, including ACS Catalysis and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Cynthia Friend is the T.W. Richards Professor of Chemistry at Harvard University, specializing in Surface Chemistry, nanoscience, heterogeneous catalysis, and physical chemistry. Her research explores the design and application of nanoporous materials, such as gold and silver nanoparticles, for catalytic processes. She investigates mechanisms of surface reactions, including oxygen activation, CO oxidation, and selective hydrogenation, with a focus on sustainable and green chemistry. Her work bridges experimental and theoretical approaches to understand reactivity and selectivity in heterogeneous systems. Friend's research has significant implications for energy conversion and environmental remediation.