Welcome to the Straus Research Group in the Department of Chemistry at Tulane University. We specialize in the design, synthesis, characterization, and applications of molecular and extended crystalline materials. Areas of interest include magnetism and superconductivity in cluster-based materials, chiral materials for optics and spin-polarized charge transport, and extending the organic-inorganic hybrid materials paradigm beyond halides to include oxides.
Our lab space is 5071 Percival Stern Hall.
We are recruiting new graduate students. Prospective graduate students must apply to the Chemistry PhD program here: https://sse.tulane.edu/academics/graduate/admissions.
News
Our first paper at Tulane has been published!
Z. Zhang, S. Biswas, M. M. Montemore, D. B. Straus. “The Emergence of Intrinsic Chirality in Copper and Palladium Chloride Materials.” Mater. Adv. (2025). DOI: 10.1039/D5MA00682A
Photos
Zheng working in the glove box 
Tower of furnaces 
Panalytical Aeris powder X-ray diffractometer 
Our Dynacool PPMS allows us to measure the magnetic, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of materials at temperatures from 1.7 to 400 K and at magnetic fields from 0 to ±9 T. 
Bruker D8 Venture single-crystal X-ray diffractometer (departmental equipment) 
Bruker D8 Quest single-crystal X-ray diffractometer (departmental equipment) 
Spin-coating system in fume hood. We have another one inside the glove box. 
Figuring out how to get the PPMS out of the crate 
About to roll the PPMS cryostat out of its crate 
Rolling the PPMS console out of its crate 
Nearly complete lab renovation 
The lab’s nitrogen gas distribution system