About

Jeffrey A. Reimer is a Distinguished Professor of the Graduate School in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his doctorate from the California Institute of Technology. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at IBM Research in New York, he joined the Berkeley faculty, where he has held positions including the C. Judson King Endowed Professor and the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Distinguished Professor and Chair of the department. In July 2022, he relinquished his active administrative roles to focus on his research and teaching. Professor Reimer's research generates new knowledge aimed at environmental protection, sustainability, and fundamental insights into condensed matter through materials chemistry, physics, and engineering. His experimental group specializes in magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging, applying various tools to study the structure and properties of materials such as metal-organic frameworks for carbon capture and the electrical and optical control of nuclear polarization in semiconductors. His work spans topics including materials chemistry, applied spectroscopy, alternative energy, and nuclear spintronics. Recognized for his contributions, he has been elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the International Society for Magnetic Resonance. He has received numerous awards, including the UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award and the Warren K. Lewis Award of the AIChE for contributions to chemical engineering education. Additionally, he is a co-author of influential texts in chemical engineering design and carbon capture and sequestration.

Research topics

• Nanotechnology
• Materials science
• Chemical engineering
• Chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Nuclear magnetic resonance
• Optoelectronics
• Condensed matter physics
• Composite material
• Physics
• Crystallography

Selected publications

• Out-of-time-order correlators bridge classical transport and quantum dynamics

  The Journal of Chemical Physics · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) has emerged as a central tool for quantifying decoherence across wide-ranging physical platforms. Here, we demonstrate its direct measurement in a classical ensemble using nuclear magnetic resonance with a modulated gradient spin echo sequence and extend the method into a multidimensional correlation to track exchange phenomena. Position is encoded through magnetic field gradients and momentum through the velocity autocorrelation function, enabling experimental access to OTOCs for proton motion confined within the self-similar lattice of the metal-organic framework MOF-808. Here, water confined to specified geometries within the MOF pores gives rise to spatially distinct diffusive eigenmodes with characteristic relative entropies. We demonstrate that periodic radio frequency driving combined with gradient modulation yields entropy evolution through the selection of distinct diffusion modes. Frequency-resolved diffusion spectra connect these entropy dynamics to classical heat exchange laws, revealing how operational features of quantum systems are mirrored in confined, macroscopic spin ensembles.

  PublisherDOI

• Illuminating the Effects of Interchain Interactions on the Catalytic Amidation of C–H Bonds in Polyethylenes

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2026-01-06 · 1 citations

  article

  Transformations of polyethylenes into more versatile materials could lead to new, more sustainable applications. Functionalization of C-H bonds in polyethylenes creates unique polymers with important properties, but the range of materials accessible by this approach is confined by the narrow scope of reactions that are amenable to these hydrocarbon polymers. Properties unique to macromolecules, such as chain-entanglements and high viscosities, could affect the relative rates and efficiencies of reactions. A deeper understanding of the origin of the differences in the catalytic transformations of polyethylenes from those of shorter alkanes would inform the design of new reactions tailored to these macromolecules and ultimately enable access to new materials. Here we show that noncovalent interactions of functionalized polymer chains affect the efficiency of the catalytic amidation of polyethylenes, limiting the maximum level of functionalization. We found that these noncovalent interactions increase with increasing levels of amide incorporation on the polymer and that these interactions alter the reaction media as the reaction progresses, ultimately suppressing catalytic amidation at later time points. We show that these effects can be mitigated by running reactions with cosolvents and that this approach allows for the highest levels of amide incorporation (up to 7 mol %, relative to monomer units). At this previously inaccessible level of functionalization, the resulting materials possess newfound properties, including dynamic cross-links that toughen the material. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that small-molecule models provide only a partial view into reactions of polyolefins and that factors unique to macromolecules must be considered to develop reactions with them.

  PublisherDOI

• Geometric phase detection via NMR interferometry

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2026-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Author response for "Microstructure of Amide-Functionalized Polyethylenes Determined by NMR Relaxometry"

  2026-01-06

  peer-reviewSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Mesh-like structure integrated core-shell-shell nanocomposites for enhanced stability and performance in carbon capture

  Nature Communications · 2025-11-26 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Carbon capture is essential for mitigating climate change, yet most sorbents struggle to combine high capacity with chemical stability. Here we report core-shell-shell (CSS) nanocomposites that integrate adsorption efficiency with exceptional robustness. The design couples a metal-organic framework (MOF) core, which enriches local CO2 concentration, with a polyamine shell that is reorganized into a porous, ordered network through entanglement with an outer covalent organic framework (COF) shell. This hierarchical architecture enables dual amine functionalization via sequential “click” and Schiff-base reactions, achieving a CO2 uptake of 3.4 mmol g−1 at 1 bar. The COF outer layer also acts as a protective barrier, suppressing humidity interference and doubling cycling stability under simulated flue gas. Remarkably, the nanocomposites maintain structural integrity after one week in strongly acidic (3 M HNO3) or basic (NaOH, pH=14) environments, underscoring their chemical resilience. By uniting high capacity, cycling durability, and environmental tolerance, this CSS strategy offers a versatile platform for next-generation carbon capture materials. The study reports a metal-organic framework (MOF) - covalent organic framework (COF) nanocomposite with dual amine sites that captures CO2 efficiently and remains stable under humid, harsh conditions, offering a promising path for next-generation carbon capture.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Mg-Ion Conduction in Antiperovskite Solid Electrolytes Revealed by ^<b>25</b>Mg Ultrahigh Field NMR and First-Principles Calculations

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025-07-24 · 2 citations

  articleCorresponding

  Magnesium-ion batteries hold the potential to outperform the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, given the divalent charge carried by each Mg2+ cation, but remain in an early stage of development. Here, 25Mg solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) is used to gain insight into the local structure and Mg-ion dynamics of candidate Mg-ion solid electrolytes, the antiperovskites Mg3SbN and Mg3AsN. Using the highest available magnetic field (35.2 T) for high-resolution solid-state NMR, the largest 25Mg quadrupole coupling constants (CQ) yet measured of up to 22 MHz are reported and corroborated by first-principles calculations. Predicted CQ values are shown to correlate with the antiperovskite’s tolerance factor; thus, 25Mg NMR linewidths can report on lattice distortions and phase stability of these antiperovskites. Variable-temperature 25Mg NMR spectra demonstrate changes at elevated temperatures, ascribed to Mg-ion motional effects. 25Mg T1 relaxometry measurements at ultrahigh field reveal a lower activation energy for the more distorted Mg3AsN phase, matching computational predictions of a lower energy barrier for Mg2+ ion migration and suggesting that additional scrutiny of antiperovskites as Mg-ion conductors is warranted. Given the inherent challenges of 25Mg NMR, this work demonstrates the benefits of combining ultrahigh field NMR spectroscopy, advanced pulse sequences, modern signal processing, and first-principles calculations to facilitate NMR of quadrupolar nuclei as a tool to probe the local structure and ion dynamics in beyond-Li battery materials.

  PublisherDOI

• Diffusion power spectra as a window into dynamic materials architecture

  Science Advances · 2025-04-11 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Chemical recycling of commodity and specialty polymers presents a multifaceted challenge for industrial societies. On one hand, macromolecular architectures must be engineered to yield durable products that, on the other hand, rapidly deconstruct to recyclable monomers under pre-determined conditions. Polymer deconstruction is a chemical process that requires deep understanding of molecular reactivity in heterogeneous media, where porous material architectures evolve in both space and time. To build this understanding, we develop herein experimental and analytical methods describing sets of diffusive eigenmodes that exist within time-varying, non-Euclidean boundary conditions, a situation commonly encountered in the reactive deconstruction of polymers where chain fragments splay, alter their local dynamics, and evolve in their confinement of reacting media. Diffusion power spectra, discerned experimentally by NMR, yield polymer and solvent frequency-domain velocity autocorrelation functions that are analyzed in the context of physical models for chemical reactions parameterized with fractal mathematics. The results connect local motion in polymers to chemical reactivity during acidolysis of circular elastomers.

  PublisherDOI

• CCDC 2432884: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

  The Cambridge Structural Database · 2025-12-23

  datasetOpen access

  An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

  PublisherDOI

• A Microporous Bimetallic Aluminum-Copper-Carboxylate-Pyrazolate MOF for CO2 Capture

  ChemRxiv · 2025-06-04

  preprintOpen access

  Herein, we present a novel bimetallic hetero-functional ultra-microporous MOF, labelled MIP-212(Al/Cu) (MIP stands for Materials from Institute of Porous Materials of Paris), designed based on Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) principle. This MOF is constructed from Al3+ and Cu2+ ions together with the carboxylate-pyrazolate ligand (PyC), that endows the structure with two types of narrow tunnel-like pores decorated with either μ2-OH groups or Cu(II) open metal sites. While the structure shows a slight breathing behaviour depending on pore’s content, the confinement effect, in combination with open metal sites generated upon activation, leads to a remarkably high CO2 uptake capacity at ambient temperature and low pressure (ca. 2.30 mmol/g at 0.15 bar), comparable to benchmark MOFs, with a good CO2/N2 IAST estimated selectivity of ca. 30 at 1 bar. The calculated Qst (CO2) of -36.8 kJ·mol-1 suggests a relatively low energy demand for its regeneration process. Finally, dynamic breakthrough measurements conducted under binary gas mixture conditions of CO2:N2 (15:85) prompts MIP-212(Al/Cu) as a promising post-combustion CO2 capture adsorbent, when employed in a typical temperature swing adsorption (TSA) process, as predicted by process, techno-economics and environmental Key Performance Indicators

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Mechanistic Studies of Oxidative Degradation in Diamine-Appended Metal–Organic Frameworks Exhibiting Cooperative CO ₂ Capture

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025-07-10 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Understanding the impact of O2 during a carbon capture process is vital for designing robust, cost-effective materials for carrying it out. However, mechanistic studies of the O2-induced degradation of materials are not easily undertaken owing to the complex sequential reaction pathways that arise. Here, we report comprehensive mechanistic investigations of the O2-induced degradation of diamine-appended metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibiting cooperative CO2 adsorption. Oxygen exposure experiments were performed on seven different diamine-appended MOFs, including e-2–Mg2(dobpdc) (e-2 = N-ethylethylenediamine, dobpdc4– = 4,4′-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylate), under various temperatures and O2 pressures. These experiments show that diamine degradation inhibits CO2 chemisorption and that the degradation rate is significantly influenced by the diamine structure. In contrast, the parent frameworks remain essentially intact upon O2 exposure. Detailed characterization of O2-exposed e-2–Mg2(dobpdc) revealed the formation of various degradation products, including acetaldehyde, carbon dioxide, water, ethylamine, and other aldehyde- and imine-containing species. Together, these observations suggest that diamine degradation occurs via C–N bond cleavage through pathways involving C-centered radicals. Furthermore, computational evaluation of the initiation and propagation pathways for amine degradation in diamine-appended MOFs indicates that (i) degradation is likely initiated by OH•, (ii) carbon-centered radicals generated via radical transfer reactions react with O2, leading to amine degradation, and (iii) the rate-limiting step of the degradation reactions likely involves O–O bond cleavage. Overall, these mechanistic insights could inform strategies for mitigating O2-induced amine degradation in next-generation carbon capture technologies.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Collaborative Research: AccelNet: Sustainable Capture and Conversion of CO2 to Chemicals and Fuels using Renewable Electrons (SCO2RE)

  NSF · $300k · 2019–2023

• Nuclear Hyperpolarization in Semiconductors

  NSF · $390k · 2011–2014

• Collaborative Research - GOALI: Dynamic Nuclear Spin Hyperpolarization via Color Centers in Diamond

  NSF · $301k · 2019–2022

• MRI: Acquisition of a 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)Spectrometer to Enable Material Science Research

  NSF · $501k · 2020–2023

Frequent coauthors

• Jeffrey R. Long

  University of California, Berkeley

  171 shared

• David M. Halat

  University of California, Berkeley

  128 shared

• Carlos A. Meriles

  City College of New York

  116 shared

• Alexander Pines

  University of California, Berkeley

  115 shared

• Alexander C. Forse

  University of Cambridge

  81 shared

• Omar M. Yaghi

  King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology

  77 shared

• Nitash P. Balsara

  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  74 shared

• Alexis T. Bell

  71 shared

Awards & honors

• UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award
• Warren K. Lewis Award of the AIChE
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sc…
• Fellow of the American Physical Society
• Fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance